Eupithecia maestosa - Hodges#7460
Eupithecia maestosa
This record describes Eupithecia maestosa (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Taylor description as Eupithecia dyarata is available online in the print references. This group can be difficult to identify from photos and are best determined by examining the genitalia, or by DNA analysis. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). 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
California to Colorado, British Columbia and Alberta. , There are records from Quebec and Ontario on Moth Photographers Group and BOLD. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most often reported from April through August. ( 3 ) February to November in California. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia maestosa. 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 maestosa - Hodges#7460 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , JohnMaxwell22 , JoAnneRusso , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Eupithecia maestosa - Hodges#7460
What is Eupithecia maestosa - Hodges#7460?
Eupithecia maestosa - Hodges#7460 (Eupithecia maestosa) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Eupithecia maestosa - Hodges#7460?
Wingspan 17-21 mm.
How do you identify Eupithecia maestosa - Hodges#7460?
Taylor description as Eupithecia dyarata is available online in the print references. This group can be difficult to identify from photos and are best determined by examining the genitalia, or by DNA analysis. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Eupithecia maestosa - Hodges#7460 found?
Range: California to Colorado, British Columbia and Alberta. , There are records from Quebec and Ontario on Moth Photographers Group and BOLD. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Eupithecia maestosa - Hodges#7460 eat?
The diet of the Eupithecia maestosa - Hodges#7460 includes Larval host unknown..
When is Eupithecia maestosa - Hodges#7460 active?
Eupithecia maestosa - Hodges#7460: seasonal activity - Adults are most often reported from April through August. ( 3 ) February to November in California. ( 3 ).