Fletcher's Eupithecia - Hodges#7491
Eupithecia fletcherata
This record describes Eupithecia fletcherata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see original description in Print References. Larva - pale brown with a dark brown diamond pattern dorsally. Genitalia: ♀ ♂
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
Records from North Carolina and Tennessee northeast to Maine, southern Ontario east to New Brunswick.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is alder ( Alnus ).
Life History
Overwinters in the pupal stage.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet in honor of Dr. James Fletcher (1852–1908), botanist and entomologist of the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia fletcherata. 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 Fletcher's Eupithecia - Hodges#7491 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Randy Hardy , Blocky , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Fletcher's Eupithecia - Hodges#7491
What is Fletcher's Eupithecia - Hodges#7491?
Fletcher's Eupithecia - Hodges#7491 (Eupithecia fletcherata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fletcher's Eupithecia - Hodges#7491?
Wingspan about 17-21 mm (Taylor, 1907). Larvae mature to about 25 mm.
How do you identify Fletcher's Eupithecia - Hodges#7491?
Adult - see original description in Print References. Larva - pale brown with a dark brown diamond pattern dorsally. Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Fletcher's Eupithecia - Hodges#7491 found?
Range: Records from North Carolina and Tennessee northeast to Maine, southern Ontario east to New Brunswick.
What does Fletcher's Eupithecia - Hodges#7491 eat?
The diet of the Fletcher's Eupithecia - Hodges#7491 includes Larval host is alder ( Alnus )..
What is the life cycle of a Fletcher's Eupithecia - Hodges#7491?
Overwinters in the pupal stage.