Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055
Dichorda illustraria
This record describes Dichorda illustraria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Geometra illustraria Hulst, is available online at the link in the print references below. Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Geometrinae
- Tribe
- Nemoriini
- Genus
- Dichorda
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Coastal Oregon south to Baja California with the Sierra Nevada and Transverse Ranges the eastern limit. ( 4 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly June to September in northern California and Oregon Two broods in southern California and Baja with adults seen March to November. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include. Rhus laurina Rhus trilobata Ribes sp.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dichorda illustraria. 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 Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055
What is Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055?
Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055 (Dichorda illustraria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055?
Forewing length. ♂ 14-18 mm. ♀ 18-22 mm.
How do you identify Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055?
The original description as Geometra illustraria Hulst, is available online at the link in the print references below. Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055 found?
Range: Coastal Oregon south to Baja California with the Sierra Nevada and Transverse Ranges the eastern limit. ( 4 )
What does Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055 eat?
The diet of the Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055 includes Larval hosts include. Rhus laurina Rhus trilobata Ribes sp..
When is Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055 active?
Dichorda illustraria - Hodges#7055: seasonal activity - Adults fly June to September in northern California and Oregon Two broods in southern California and Baja with adults seen March to November. ( 4 ).