Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389
Digrammia decorata
This record describes Digrammia decorata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing medium gray or brownish-gray with black AM and PM lines, and distinct dark discal spot; lower portion of AM line bold/conspicuous but upper portion faint/absent; PM line strongly curved, S-shaped, interrupted by short space near costa, and edged distally by diffuse band of grayish=brown shading; hindwing PM line slightly concave and visible only in lower half (does not extend across wing) In some specimens (such as these 2 labelled arubrescens and Jim Vargo's arubrescens photo at MPG) lower portion of PM line is almost straight, not S-shaped. Perhaps arubrescens is a recognizable form (?) Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Larva: body green with paler lines and yellow lateral stripe
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), scrublands and riparian areas where foodplant grows
Geographic Range
Manitoba to British Columbia, south to Colorado, Arizona, and California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from March to September in California; May to August in Alberta
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of willow ( Salix spp.)
Life History
probably two generations per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Digrammia decorata. 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 Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389
What is Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389?
Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389 (Digrammia decorata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389?
wingspan 22-32 mm, based on several Internet photos
How do you identify Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389?
Adult: forewing medium gray or brownish-gray with black AM and PM lines, and distinct dark discal spot; lower portion of AM line bold/conspicuous but upper portion faint/absent; PM line strongly curved, S-shaped, interrupted by short space near costa, and edged distally by diffuse band of grayish=brown shading; hindwing PM line slightly concave and visible only in lower half (does not extend across wing) In some specimens (such as these 2 labelled arubrescens and Jim Vargo's arubrescens photo at MPG) lower portion of PM line is almost straight, not S-shaped. Perhaps arubrescens is a recognizable form (?) Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Larva: body green with paler lines and yellow lateral stripe
Where is Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | prairie badlands (in Alberta), scrublands and riparian areas where foodplant grows |
| Range | Manitoba to British Columbia, south to Colorado, Arizona, and California |
What does Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389 eat?
The diet of the Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389 includes larvae feed on leaves of willow ( Salix spp.).
When is Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389 active?
Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389: seasonal activity - adults fly from March to September in California; May to August in Alberta.
What is the life cycle of a Decorated Granite - Hodges#6389?
probably two generations per year