Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581
Eupithecia gilvipennata
This record describes Eupithecia gilvipennata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581 (Eupithecia gilvipennata) is a species in the family Geometridae, commonly known as geometrid moths, belonging to the order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths). It is classified within the subfamily Larentiinae, tribe Eupitheciini, superfamily Geometroidea. This species belongs to the genus Eupithecia. As a member of class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda, it is part of the kingdom Animalia. Size: Wingspan averages 25 mm.. Active during McDunnough reported the adults fly in late-February to early March in central California, and late April to early May further north..
Identification notes
Determined by Hugh McGuinness.
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
McDunnough reported British Columbia to California; Colorado; Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
McDunnough reported the adults fly in late-February to early March in central California, and late April to early May further north.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Arctostaphylos hookeri G.Don [ Arbutus pungens ] (Hooker's manzanita). ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: For an explanation of the names, see McDunnough.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia gilvipennata. 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 gilvipennata - Hodges#7581 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , JoAnneRusso
Frequently Asked Questions About Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581
What is Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581?
Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581 (Eupithecia gilvipennata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581?
Wingspan averages 25 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581?
Determined by Hugh McGuinness.
Where is Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581 found?
Range: McDunnough reported British Columbia to California; Colorado; Arizona.
What does Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581 eat?
The diet of the Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581 includes Arctostaphylos hookeri G.Don [ Arbutus pungens ] (Hooker's manzanita). ( 3 ).
When is Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581 active?
Eupithecia gilvipennata - Hodges#7581: seasonal activity - McDunnough reported the adults fly in late-February to early March in central California, and late April to early May further north..