Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381
Digrammia colorata
This record describes Digrammia colorata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing ground color variably pale yellowish to grayish-brown, with sparse to heavy speckling mixed with yellowish or orangish scales; four dark marks along costa represent tops of AM, median, PM, and subterminal lines, which are otherwise faint or lacking; discal spot elliptical, paler or hollow in center, usually situated distal to dark marking where median line meets costa; diffuse dark gray band (sometimes mixed with orange) across subterminal area, and gray shading in terminal area; terminal line a series of black dashes; fringe checkered on all wings; hindwing grayish, heavily speckled, with dark circular discal spot. Ferguson notes that females are less heavily marked than males. Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Larva - a twig mimic, supposedly able to mimic three distinct forms of the creosote bush: the young shoots, brown stems, and gray twigs.
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
Deserts with creosote bush.
Geographic Range
California to Texas and Colorado. , , ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly nearly year round from February to November.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on creosote bush ( Larrea tridentata ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Digrammia colorata. 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 Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381
What is Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381?
Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381 (Digrammia colorata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381?
Ferguson listed the forewing length. ♂ 9-16 mm. ♀ 10-15 mm.
How do you identify Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381?
Adult - forewing ground color variably pale yellowish to grayish-brown, with sparse to heavy speckling mixed with yellowish or orangish scales; four dark marks along costa represent tops of AM, median, PM, and subterminal lines, which are otherwise faint or lacking; discal spot elliptical, paler or hollow in center, usually situated distal to dark marking where median line meets costa; diffuse dark gray band (sometimes mixed with orange) across subterminal area, and gray shading in terminal area; terminal line a series of black dashes; fringe checkered on all wings; hindwing grayish, heavily speckled, with dark circular discal spot. Ferguson notes that females are less heavily marked than males. Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Larva - a twig mimic, supposedly able to mimic three distinct forms of the creosote bush: the young shoots, brown stems, and gray twigs.
Where is Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Deserts with creosote bush. |
| Range | California to Texas and Colorado. , , |
What does Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381 eat?
The diet of the Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381 includes Larvae feed on creosote bush ( Larrea tridentata )..
When is Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381 active?
Creosote Moth - Hodges#6381: seasonal activity - Adults fly nearly year round from February to November..