Digrammia irrorata - Hodges#6395
Digrammia irrorata
This record describes Digrammia irrorata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing color varies from light tan to yellowish to medium brown with straight, pale yellowish AM and PM lines; AM line stops just short of costa, and both lines may be indistinct in paler individuals; discal spot dark brown, conspicuous; veins in outer half of wing finely lined with pale yellow scales; males in particular usually have a series of poorly-defined dark spots or blotches in median area and across wing beyond PM line. Hindwing similarly colored but with no AM line, and smaller, less distinct discal spot (adapted from description at U. of Alberta).
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
Shrubby areas along river valleys, arid grasslands; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light (E.H. Strickland Museum).
Geographic Range
Western United States and southwestern Canada. ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from March to June in northern regions. Several broods in the south.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Digrammia irrorata. 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 Digrammia irrorata - Hodges#6395 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Digrammia irrorata - Hodges#6395
What is Digrammia irrorata - Hodges#6395?
Digrammia irrorata - Hodges#6395 (Digrammia irrorata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Digrammia irrorata - Hodges#6395?
Wingspan 23-26 mm.
How do you identify Digrammia irrorata - Hodges#6395?
Adult: forewing color varies from light tan to yellowish to medium brown with straight, pale yellowish AM and PM lines; AM line stops just short of costa, and both lines may be indistinct in paler individuals; discal spot dark brown, conspicuous; veins in outer half of wing finely lined with pale yellow scales; males in particular usually have a series of poorly-defined dark spots or blotches in median area and across wing beyond PM line. Hindwing similarly colored but with no AM line, and smaller, less distinct discal spot (adapted from description at U. of Alberta).
Where is Digrammia irrorata - Hodges#6395 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Shrubby areas along river valleys, arid grasslands; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light (E.H. Strickland Museum). |
| Range | Western United States and southwestern Canada. |
When is Digrammia irrorata - Hodges#6395 active?
Digrammia irrorata - Hodges#6395: seasonal activity - Adults fly from March to June in northern regions. Several broods in the south..