Eupithecia bolterii - Hodges#7500
Eupithecia bolterii
This record describes Eupithecia bolterii (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See this marked-up gray example for details: , and Ann Hendrickson's characteristic buff-colored example from Edwards County: . [Adapted from McDunnough, p. 589 ] Forewings pointed apically (narrower than most other Eupithecia ’s in region); ground color of forewings pale gray or buff; two dark brown oblique lines from the costa form a more or less evident triangular patch above the discal spot ; the discal spot is elongate, black, upright; a dark streak runs from base of discal spot at least 1/3 towards FW base . There are often unmarked pale patches on the forewings on either side of the discal spot, and the upper (usually hidden) portion of the hindwings is typically unmarked, more so than on other species. On unworn specimens, a black inverted Y or 3-bladed propeller on the buff thorax is usually conspicuous and seems to be diagnostic for bolterii , at least among Texas species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Eupitheciini
- Genus
- Eupithecia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona to central Texas.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia bolterii. 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 Eupithecia bolterii - Hodges#7500 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Eupithecia bolterii - Hodges#7500
What is Eupithecia bolterii - Hodges#7500?
Eupithecia bolterii - Hodges#7500 (Eupithecia bolterii) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Eupithecia bolterii - Hodges#7500?
See this marked-up gray example for details: , and Ann Hendrickson's characteristic buff-colored example from Edwards County: . [Adapted from McDunnough, p. 589 ] Forewings pointed apically (narrower than most other Eupithecia ’s in region); ground color of forewings pale gray or buff; two dark brown oblique lines from the costa form a more or less evident triangular patch above the discal spot ; the discal spot is elongate, black, upright; a dark streak runs from base of discal spot at least 1/3 towards FW base . There are often unmarked pale patches on the forewings on either side of the discal spot, and the upper (usually hidden) portion of the hindwings is typically unmarked, more so than on other species. On unworn specimens, a black inverted Y or 3-bladed propeller on the buff thorax is usually conspicuous and seems to be diagnostic for bolterii , at least among Texas species.
Where is Eupithecia bolterii - Hodges#7500 found?
Range: Arizona to central Texas.