Sharp-lined Powder Moth - Hodges#6639
Eufidonia discospilata
This record describes Eufidonia discospilata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Melanolophiini
- Genus
- Eufidonia (Powder Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Usually found in bogs and barrens (Powell & Opler, 2009).
Geographic Range
From British Columbia to Newfoundland, south to Massachusetts (Morris, 1980), and through Great Lakes region (E.H. Strickland Museum).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Mostly trees and shrubs in Ericaceae and Rosaceae; also, alder, birch, willow and viburnum (Powell & Opler, 2009).
Life History
Overwinters as pupae (Powell & Opler, 2009).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eufidonia discospilata. 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 Sharp-lined Powder Moth - Hodges#6639 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Sharp-lined Powder Moth - Hodges#6639
How big is Sharp-lined Powder Moth - Hodges#6639?
Forewing length 11-13 mm (Powell & Opler, 2009).
Where is Sharp-lined Powder Moth - Hodges#6639 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Usually found in bogs and barrens (Powell & Opler, 2009). |
| Range | From British Columbia to Newfoundland, south to Massachusetts (Morris, 1980), and through Great Lakes region (E.H. Strickland Museum). |
What does Sharp-lined Powder Moth - Hodges#6639 eat?
The diet of the Sharp-lined Powder Moth - Hodges#6639 includes Mostly trees and shrubs in Ericaceae and Rosaceae; also, alder, birch, willow and viburnum (Powell & Opler, 2009)..
What is the life cycle of a Sharp-lined Powder Moth - Hodges#6639?
Overwinters as pupae (Powell & Opler, 2009).