Eupithecia longidens - Hodges#7454
Eupithecia longidens
This record describes Eupithecia longidens (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See this annotated example on iNaturalist. Based on the subspecies kerrvillaria in Texas: a. FW crossed by two nearly complete fine dark lines, the inner one nearly/actually touching the dark cell spot; both lines are continued across the HW. b. Dark smudges in a couple of patches along the inner side of the thin white subterminal line; note also that the white subterminal line does not form a conspicuous white dot in the outer angle; c. Each abdominal segment has a combination of a dull white (buff) spot and a small blackish inverted chevron, resulting in an interrupted line of dark dots down the center of the abdomen; and d. At the rear of the thorax, there is a conspicuous pale/white triangular patch which is typically bisected by black (with a dark area immediately in front of it). In the Common Pug Moth, this pale spot is either absent or not bisected by black.
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, Utah, and Colorado. ssp. kerrvillaria is found in Texas
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia longidens. 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 longidens - Hodges#7454 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by A. Hendrickson; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Eupithecia longidens - Hodges#7454
What is Eupithecia longidens - Hodges#7454?
Eupithecia longidens - Hodges#7454 (Eupithecia longidens) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Eupithecia longidens - Hodges#7454?
See this annotated example on iNaturalist. Based on the subspecies kerrvillaria in Texas: a. FW crossed by two nearly complete fine dark lines, the inner one nearly/actually touching the dark cell spot; both lines are continued across the HW. b. Dark smudges in a couple of patches along the inner side of the thin white subterminal line; note also that the white subterminal line does not form a conspicuous white dot in the outer angle; c. Each abdominal segment has a combination of a dull white (buff) spot and a small blackish inverted chevron, resulting in an interrupted line of dark dots down the center of the abdomen; and d. At the rear of the thorax, there is a conspicuous pale/white triangular patch which is typically bisected by black (with a dark area immediately in front of it). In the Common Pug Moth, this pale spot is either absent or not bisected by black.
Where is Eupithecia longidens - Hodges#7454 found?
Range: Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. ssp. kerrvillaria is found in Texas