Waxmyrtle Wave Moth - Hodges#7137
Cyclophora myrtaria
This record describes Cyclophora myrtaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis: See discussion of identification issues in Remarks under this image:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sterrhinae
- Tribe
- Cosymbiini
- Genus
- Cyclophora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Southern Wax Myrtle ( Myrica cerifera ) and presumably other members of the genus. Also reported to have been successfully reared on oak .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cyclophora myrtaria. 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 Waxmyrtle Wave Moth - Hodges#7137 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by cotinis , Robert Lord Zimlich , George Smiley , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Waxmyrtle Wave Moth - Hodges#7137
What is Waxmyrtle Wave Moth - Hodges#7137?
Waxmyrtle Wave Moth - Hodges#7137 (Cyclophora myrtaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Waxmyrtle Wave Moth - Hodges#7137?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis: See discussion of identification issues in Remarks under this image:
What does Waxmyrtle Wave Moth - Hodges#7137 eat?
The diet of the Waxmyrtle Wave Moth - Hodges#7137 includes Southern Wax Myrtle ( Myrica cerifera ) and presumably other members of the genus. Also reported to have been successfully reared on oak ..