Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898
Cingilia catenaria
This record describes Cingilia catenaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: wings white to pale brown or grayish; AM, PM, and terminal lines composed of black dots (AM and PM lines may be continuous in some individuals); top of head and shoulders yellow, with remainder of thorax and abdomen whitish to grayish; wings of some specimens may be dark gray, as shown here: typical...................gray form Larva: pale yellow to greenish-yellow; several white spots along side, each white spot bordered by a black spot before and after; lateral spots may be superimposed on three black-edged white stripes running length of body; head yellow with several black spots Larvae hang motionless straight down from a twig during the day, then feed in the evening and at night. Locally abundant to the point of being a pest in some years, yet becoming increasingly rare over much of its former range in the Northeast. (Wagner et al ; 2001)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Cingilia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
woodlands, barrens, bogs, heathlands
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to Maryland, west to Kansas and Alberta
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from late August to early October larvae present from June to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on a variety of shrubs and trees: alder, bayberry, birch, blueberry, bog laurel, cranberry, fir, huckleberry, leatherleaf, maple, oak, pine, poplar, sweetfern, sweet gale, tamarack, white cedar, willow
Life History
overwinters as an egg, which is laid in the fall; larvae emerge in June and pupate in August; pupa stage lasts about a month; one generation per year
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: CINGILIA: from the Latin "cingula" (a girdle); perhaps a reference to the dark dots that girdle the perimeter of the wings CATENARIA: from the Latin "catenarius" - from "catena" (a chain); a reference to the "chain" of black dots on the wings of the adult and/or the sides of the larva, and the origin of the common name Chain-dotted (or Chainspotted) Geometer
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cingilia catenaria. 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.
Photos of Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthew Roth; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Tony-2 , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898
What is Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898?
Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898 (Cingilia catenaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898?
wingspan 30-40 mm larvae to 50 mm
How do you identify Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898?
Adult: wings white to pale brown or grayish; AM, PM, and terminal lines composed of black dots (AM and PM lines may be continuous in some individuals); top of head and shoulders yellow, with remainder of thorax and abdomen whitish to grayish; wings of some specimens may be dark gray, as shown here: typical...................gray form Larva: pale yellow to greenish-yellow; several white spots along side, each white spot bordered by a black spot before and after; lateral spots may be superimposed on three black-edged white stripes running length of body; head yellow with several black spots
Where is Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | woodlands, barrens, bogs, heathlands |
| Range | Nova Scotia to Maryland, west to Kansas and Alberta |
What does Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898 eat?
The diet of the Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898 includes larvae feed on a variety of shrubs and trees: alder, bayberry, birch, blueberry, bog laurel, cranberry, fir, huckleberry, leatherleaf, maple, oak, pine, poplar, sweetfern, sweet gale, tamarack, white cedar, willow.
When is Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898 active?
Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898: seasonal activity - adults fly from late August to early October larvae present from June to August.
What is the life cycle of a Chain-dotted Geometer - Hodges#6898?
overwinters as an egg, which is laid in the fall; larvae emerge in June and pupate in August; pupa stage lasts about a month; one generation per year