Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139
Cyclophora pendulinaria
This record describes Cyclophora pendulinaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: wings white or various shades of gray to blackish-brown (melanics); discal spots hollow - round on forewing, oval on hindwing; AM and PM lines sharpest but usually broken to dotted; median line more diffuse; shading also variable. [description by Charles Covell] Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Melonic variations: Larva: green with fine pale wavy lines running along back; head yellowish or orangish
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.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Every province and territory of Canada, plus (presumably) Alaska; in the east extends south to Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas. Moth Photographers Group map Bug Guide data
Seasonal Activity
Records of adults are from April to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on alder, beech, blueberry, snakeroot, sweet-fern.
Life History
Overwinters as a pupa.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cyclophora pendulinaria. 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 Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139
What is Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139?
Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139 (Cyclophora pendulinaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139?
Wingspan 17-26 mm.
How do you identify Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139?
Adult: wings white or various shades of gray to blackish-brown (melanics); discal spots hollow - round on forewing, oval on hindwing; AM and PM lines sharpest but usually broken to dotted; median line more diffuse; shading also variable. [description by Charles Covell] Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Melonic variations: Larva: green with fine pale wavy lines running along back; head yellowish or orangish
Where is Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139 found?
Range: Every province and territory of Canada, plus (presumably) Alaska; in the east extends south to Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas. Moth Photographers Group map Bug Guide data
What does Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139 eat?
The diet of the Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139 includes Larvae feed on alder, beech, blueberry, snakeroot, sweet-fern..
When is Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139 active?
Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139: seasonal activity - Records of adults are from April to October..
What is the life cycle of a Sweetfern Geometer - Hodges#7139?
Overwinters as a pupa.