Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397
Digrammia mellistrigata
This record describes Digrammia mellistrigata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing light to medium gray or brownish-gray with sparse speckling and conspicuous dark yellow AM and PM lines; PM line curves gently from inner margin toward apex, then bends sharply forward near costa before touching costa; AM line straight except for sharp forward bend near costa; dark solid discal spot fairly close to costa; variable dark shading bordering distal edge of PM line; terminal line a series of dark dots hindwing slightly paler with distinct brownish PM line and discal spot
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
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to New Jersey, west to Nebraska, north to Alberta
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from early May to late August (in Quebec)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of willow ( Salix spp.)
Life History
two generations per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Digrammia mellistrigata. 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 Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397
What is Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397?
Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397 (Digrammia mellistrigata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397?
wingspan 21-25 mm
How do you identify Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397?
forewing light to medium gray or brownish-gray with sparse speckling and conspicuous dark yellow AM and PM lines; PM line curves gently from inner margin toward apex, then bends sharply forward near costa before touching costa; AM line straight except for sharp forward bend near costa; dark solid discal spot fairly close to costa; variable dark shading bordering distal edge of PM line; terminal line a series of dark dots hindwing slightly paler with distinct brownish PM line and discal spot
Where is Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397 found?
Range: Nova Scotia to New Jersey, west to Nebraska, north to Alberta
What does Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397 eat?
The diet of the Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397 includes larvae feed on leaves of willow ( Salix spp.).
When is Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397 active?
Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397: seasonal activity - adults fly from early May to late August (in Quebec).
What is the life cycle of a Yellow-lined Angle - Hodges#6397?
two generations per year