Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739
Euchlaena irraria
This record describes Euchlaena irraria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
wings powdery yellowish or brownish-gray with fine speckling; forewing has faint brown AM line and brown sinuous, usually complete PM line; dark brown shading along lower half of PM line, fading back to ground color toward outer margin; discal spots blackish, usually prominent on all wings but may be absent [adapted from description by Charles Covell]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Angeronini
- Genus
- Euchlaena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to South Carolina, west to Missouri, north to Saskatchewan
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of birch, dogwood, maple, meadowsweet, oak, poplar, sweet-fern
Life History
one generation per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euchlaena irraria. 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 Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Chuck Entz , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739
What is Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739?
Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739 (Euchlaena irraria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739?
wingspan 37-48 mm
How do you identify Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739?
wings powdery yellowish or brownish-gray with fine speckling; forewing has faint brown AM line and brown sinuous, usually complete PM line; dark brown shading along lower half of PM line, fading back to ground color toward outer margin; discal spots blackish, usually prominent on all wings but may be absent [adapted from description by Charles Covell]
Where is Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739 found?
Range: Nova Scotia to South Carolina, west to Missouri, north to Saskatchewan
What does Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739 eat?
The diet of the Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739 includes larvae feed on leaves of birch, dogwood, maple, meadowsweet, oak, poplar, sweet-fern.
When is Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739 active?
Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August.
What is the life cycle of a Least-marked Euchlaena - Hodges#6739?
one generation per year