LepidopteraGeometridae – Geometrid Moths

Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468

Eupithecia longipalpata

This record describes Eupithecia longipalpata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468 - Eupithecia longipalpata
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy

Adult - McDunnough description. Larva - yellowish green with dark dorsal stripe, sometimes pale sub-dorsal lines, yellowish spiracular lines.

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

Pacific coast states north to British Columbia, common on Vancouver Island.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Primarily Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock; may be found on other Pinaceae (e.g. firs and spruces).

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Specific epithet means "long palps," described as "very long, much longer than" an allied species.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia longipalpata. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468 (5)

Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468 - photo 1
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468 - photo 2
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468 - photo 3
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468 - photo 4
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468 - photo 5
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy

Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy

Frequently Asked Questions About Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468

What is Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468?

Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468 (Eupithecia longipalpata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How do you identify Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468?

Adult - McDunnough description. Larva - yellowish green with dark dorsal stripe, sometimes pale sub-dorsal lines, yellowish spiracular lines.

Where is Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468 found?

Range: Pacific coast states north to British Columbia, common on Vancouver Island.

What does Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468 eat?

The diet of the Eupithecia longipalpata - Hodges#7468 includes Primarily Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock; may be found on other Pinaceae (e.g. firs and spruces)..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.