Californian Granite - Hodges#6380
Digrammia californiaria
This record describes Digrammia californiaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing whitish to pale brown with sparse dark speckling; small black patches along costa represent upper ends of AM, median, and PM lines, which are otherwise missing or faint; broken dark patch about one-third distance from costa along PM line; some individual have slightly darker shading beyond PM line; hindwing color similar to forewing but with small discal spot as its only marking
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Macariini
- Genus
- Digrammia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
prairie badlands (in Alberta); adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Texas to California, north to Alberta and British Columbia
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from March to October in California (2 broods); possibly all year in Texas
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on Big Deervetch ( Lotus crassifolius ) on the west coast, and presumably other legumes in the interior where Big Deervetch does not occur
Life History
two generations per year in Alberta; perhaps more in the south
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Digrammia californiaria. 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 Californian Granite - Hodges#6380 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Californian Granite - Hodges#6380
What is Californian Granite - Hodges#6380?
Californian Granite - Hodges#6380 (Digrammia californiaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Californian Granite - Hodges#6380?
wingspan 22-29 mm, based on six Internet photos
How do you identify Californian Granite - Hodges#6380?
Adult: forewing whitish to pale brown with sparse dark speckling; small black patches along costa represent upper ends of AM, median, and PM lines, which are otherwise missing or faint; broken dark patch about one-third distance from costa along PM line; some individual have slightly darker shading beyond PM line; hindwing color similar to forewing but with small discal spot as its only marking
Where is Californian Granite - Hodges#6380 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | prairie badlands (in Alberta); adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Texas to California, north to Alberta and British Columbia |
What does Californian Granite - Hodges#6380 eat?
The diet of the Californian Granite - Hodges#6380 includes larvae feed on Big Deervetch ( Lotus crassifolius ) on the west coast, and presumably other legumes in the interior where Big Deervetch does not occur.
When is Californian Granite - Hodges#6380 active?
Californian Granite - Hodges#6380: seasonal activity - adults fly from March to October in California (2 broods); possibly all year in Texas.
What is the life cycle of a Californian Granite - Hodges#6380?
two generations per year in Alberta; perhaps more in the south