Eupithecia jejunata - Hodges#7486
Eupithecia jejunata
This record describes Eupithecia jejunata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Eupithecia is a difficult group with many similar species that often require dissection for identification. Many undescribed species are known. Genitalia: ♀ ♂ In Texas and across at least part of the South, the thoracic and abdominal patterns of Swift Pug help separate the species from most of the more common Eupithecia 's. Elements to look for include the following: -- Relatively uniform buff thorax with an arching black band in basal area (collar) and narrower black band at rear margin. -- Immediately behind the rear black band on thorax is a small white patch which is recognizably paler than the middle of the thorax. -- Most abdominal segments have a small black dot in the rear center of the segment, usually set in a vague pale line down the center of the abdomen. Also: -- The narrow subterminal white line on the FW is nearly complete from costal to inner margin; it may show a small thickening in the lower part but not as conspicuous a white spot as Common Eupithecia. This pale subterminal line usually has two dusky patches on its inner margin. -- A pale band just distal to the dark PM line is often the cleanest (most conspicuous) of the pale areas crossing the wing. It can have a thin dark line bisecting it. Most of these marks are recognizable in the above Florida example and the following examples from Alabama and Texas:
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
Texas and Missouri to North Carolina and Florida. Massachusetts Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Most records of adults are from March to June. Florida records are from January to April; November.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia jejunata. 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 jejunata - Hodges#7486 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , JoAnneRusso , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Eupithecia jejunata - Hodges#7486
What is Eupithecia jejunata - Hodges#7486?
Eupithecia jejunata - Hodges#7486 (Eupithecia jejunata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Eupithecia jejunata - Hodges#7486?
Eupithecia is a difficult group with many similar species that often require dissection for identification. Many undescribed species are known. Genitalia: ♀ ♂ In Texas and across at least part of the South, the thoracic and abdominal patterns of Swift Pug help separate the species from most of the more common Eupithecia 's. Elements to look for include the following: -- Relatively uniform buff thorax with an arching black band in basal area (collar) and narrower black band at rear margin. -- Immediately behind the rear black band on thorax is a small white patch which is recognizably paler than the middle of the thorax. -- Most abdominal segments have a small black dot in the rear center of the segment, usually set in a vague pale line down the center of the abdomen. Also: -- The narrow subterminal white line on the FW is nearly complete from costal to inner margin; it may show a small thickening in the lower part but not as conspicuous a white spot as Common Eupithecia. This pale subterminal line usually has two dusky patches on its inner margin. -- A pale band just distal to the dark PM line is often the cleanest (most conspicuous) of the pale areas crossing the wing. It can have a thin dark line bisecting it. Most of these marks are recognizable in the above Florida example and the following examples from Alabama and Texas:
Where is Eupithecia jejunata - Hodges#7486 found?
Range: Texas and Missouri to North Carolina and Florida. Massachusetts Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
When is Eupithecia jejunata - Hodges#7486 active?
Eupithecia jejunata - Hodges#7486: seasonal activity - Most records of adults are from March to June. Florida records are from January to April; November..