Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704
Erastria coloraria
This record describes Erastria coloraria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
diurnal. Adults attracted to baits and lights. rare and threatened (Natureserve rank G3/G4) by growing deer populations that overbrowse the host plant and other factors
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Caberini
- Genus
- Erastria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
wherever New Jersey tea is found. Specifically, pitch pine barrens and grassy openings in old quarries and powerline right of ways of the Northeast; shale barrens in Appalachia; sand hills and river terraces in North Carolina; long leaf pine/wiregrass savanna in Florida; pine and oak barrens in Wisconsin
Geographic Range
uncertain. Historically known from New Hampshire, west Connecticut to northern Florida, west to Minnesota, Iowa, west Missouri and adjacent Kansas, Colorado. Believed to be expatriated from New England
Seasonal Activity
multivoltine, adults emerge late April or May and mid-June through mid-July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus and Ceanothus herbaceus
Life History
overwinter as pupae
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Erastria coloraria. 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 Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by MJ Hatfield , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704
What is Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704?
Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704 (Erastria coloraria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704?
wingspan 30 - 35mm
Where is Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | wherever New Jersey tea is found. Specifically, pitch pine barrens and grassy openings in old quarries and powerline right of ways of the Northeast; shale barrens in Appalachia; sand hills and river terraces in North Carolina; long leaf pine/wiregrass savanna in Florida; pine and oak barrens in Wisconsin |
| Range | uncertain. Historically known from New Hampshire, west Connecticut to northern Florida, west to Minnesota, Iowa, west Missouri and adjacent Kansas, Colorado. Believed to be expatriated from New England |
What does Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704 eat?
The diet of the Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704 includes larvae feed on New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus and Ceanothus herbaceus.
When is Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704 active?
Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704: seasonal activity - multivoltine, adults emerge late April or May and mid-June through mid-July.
What is the life cycle of a Broad-lined Erastria Moth - Hodges#6704?
overwinter as pupae