Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520
Eubarnesia ritaria
This record describes Eubarnesia ritaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see Rindge's description. Larva - generally greenish white. See plates 11 and 12 and read online the Comstock & Dammers description. Larvae can be secured by bending a leafed-out ocotillo stalk and tapping sharply with a stick. They will then lower themselves on silk threads.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Boarmiini
- Genus
- Eubarnesia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Deserts from California to western Texas, south into Mexico. Type Location: Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima County, Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
On the wing from April through September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on the leaves of ocotillo ( Fouquieria splendens ).
Life History
Larvae rest under the thorns of ocotillo. Pupation occurs under the soil.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eubarnesia ritaria. 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 Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520
What is Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520?
Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520 (Eubarnesia ritaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520?
Forewing length: ♂ 9-11 mm, ♀ 11-13 mm. Larva to 24 mm. Pupa 9 mm.
How do you identify Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520?
Adult - see Rindge's description. Larva - generally greenish white. See plates 11 and 12 and read online the Comstock & Dammers description.
Where is Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520 found?
Range: Deserts from California to western Texas, south into Mexico. Type Location: Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima County, Arizona.
What does Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520 eat?
The diet of the Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520 includes Larvae feed on the leaves of ocotillo ( Fouquieria splendens )..
When is Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520 active?
Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520: seasonal activity - On the wing from April through September..
What is the life cycle of a Eubarnesia ritaria - Hodges#6520?
Larvae rest under the thorns of ocotillo. Pupation occurs under the soil.