Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594
Cleora sublunaria
This record describes Cleora sublunaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva: Elongate, smooth, green to brown with faint dorsal and lateral stripes. Head with faint spotting forming short concentric bands. Dorsum with darker middorsal (heart) line edged with indistinct addorsal, subdorsal, and supraspiracular stripes. Second, third, and fourth abdominal segments with middorsal black spot, bounded with white laterally, near front margin of each segment. Often with dark lateral spot behind spiracle. ( USGS )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Boarmiini
- Genus
- Cleora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southeastern US west to Texas
Seasonal Activity
Adults appear to be most common from February to June. Later records exist.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Oaks, sweetferns and presumably others.
Life History
One generation, larva present June through July
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cleora sublunaria. 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 Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594
What is Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594?
Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594 (Cleora sublunaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594?
Forewing length: ♂ 13-17 mm. ♀ 14-17 mm.
How do you identify Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594?
Larva: Elongate, smooth, green to brown with faint dorsal and lateral stripes. Head with faint spotting forming short concentric bands. Dorsum with darker middorsal (heart) line edged with indistinct addorsal, subdorsal, and supraspiracular stripes. Second, third, and fourth abdominal segments with middorsal black spot, bounded with white laterally, near front margin of each segment. Often with dark lateral spot behind spiracle. ( USGS )
Where is Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594 found?
Range: Southeastern US west to Texas
What does Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594 eat?
The diet of the Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594 includes Oaks, sweetferns and presumably others..
When is Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594 active?
Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594: seasonal activity - Adults appear to be most common from February to June. Later records exist..
What is the life cycle of a Double-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6594?
One generation, larva present June through July