Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396
Digrammia neptaria
This record describes Digrammia neptaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing light grayish-brown with speckling and variably faint or bold markings; AM and PM lines bicolored orangish-yellow for most of length, changing to gray near costa; PM line slightly sinuous, the yellowish part bordered distally by diffuse gray or blackish shading; discal spot oval, hollow, sometimes diffuse; median line faint, wavy; terminal line composed of several dark dots. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing slightly paler, speckled, with faint discal spot; AM and PM lines dark at inner margin, otherwise faded or absent. |
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
Dry Jack Pine forests, sandy pine barrens, and boreal or montane forest; adults are attracted to light.
Geographic Range
Yukon, Northwest Territories, and BC to Newfoundland, south in the east to New Hampshire, south in the west to California, Arizona, New Mexico (one Texas record in 2001) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Adults and larvae from May/June to August/September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of willow and poplar.
Life History
One generation per year in the north; two in the south.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Digrammia neptaria. 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 Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396
What is Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396?
Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396 (Digrammia neptaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396?
Wingspan 25-30 mm.
How do you identify Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing light grayish-brown with speckling and variably faint or bold markings; AM and PM lines bicolored orangish-yellow for most of length, changing to gray near costa; PM line slightly sinuous, the yellowish part bordered distally by diffuse gray or blackish shading; discal spot oval, hollow, sometimes diffuse; median line faint, wavy; terminal line composed of several dark dots. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing slightly paler, speckled, with faint discal spot; AM and PM lines dark at inner margin, otherwise faded or absent. |
Where is Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dry Jack Pine forests, sandy pine barrens, and boreal or montane forest; adults are attracted to light. |
| Range | Yukon, Northwest Territories, and BC to Newfoundland, south in the east to New Hampshire, south in the west to California, Arizona, New Mexico (one Texas record in 2001) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection dates. |
What does Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396 eat?
The diet of the Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396 includes Larvae feed on leaves of willow and poplar..
When is Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396 active?
Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396: seasonal activity - Adults and larvae from May/June to August/September..
What is the life cycle of a Dark-bordered Granite - Hodges#6396?
One generation per year in the north; two in the south.