Eupithecia cretaceata - Hodges#7533
Eupithecia cretaceata
This record describes Eupithecia cretaceata (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
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Eupitheciini
- Genus
- Eupithecia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Widely distributed in Canada and much of the U.S. Also found in Europe.
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been found from June to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on the flowers and seeds of Veratrum viride
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia cretaceata. 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 cretaceata - Hodges#7533 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Eupithecia cretaceata - Hodges#7533
Where is Eupithecia cretaceata - Hodges#7533 found?
Range: Widely distributed in Canada and much of the U.S. Also found in Europe.
What does Eupithecia cretaceata - Hodges#7533 eat?
The diet of the Eupithecia cretaceata - Hodges#7533 includes larvae feed on the flowers and seeds of Veratrum viride.
When is Eupithecia cretaceata - Hodges#7533 active?
Eupithecia cretaceata - Hodges#7533: seasonal activity - Adults have been found from June to September..