LepidopteraGeometridae – Geometrid Moths

Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701

Chloraspilates minima

This record describes Chloraspilates minima (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701 - Chloraspilates minima
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy

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Identification notes

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Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Geometroidea
Family
Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
Subfamily
Ennominae
Tribe
Caberini
Genus
Chloraspilates

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Southern and western Texas to Arizona.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Probable host is lotebush ( Ziziphus obtusifolia ).

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chloraspilates minima. Species-specific details appear above.

Group overview

Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.

Ecological role of the group

Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.

Economic and practical significance of the group

Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.

Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701 (5)

Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy

Frequently Asked Questions About Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701

What is Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701?

Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701 (Chloraspilates minima) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701?

Wingspan 22-28 mm. , Hulst listed a wingspan of 28 mm.

How do you identify Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701?

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Where is Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701 found?

Range: Southern and western Texas to Arizona.

What does Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701 eat?

The diet of the Chloraspilates minima - Hodges#6701 includes Probable host is lotebush ( Ziziphus obtusifolia )..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.