Eupithecia purpurissata - Hodges#7579
Eupithecia purpurissata
This record describes Eupithecia purpurissata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Grossbeck original description. In wing form like the ordinary type of Eupithecia , wings not unusually extended nor unusually broad. Front slightly protuberant, palpi extending a little beyond the front. Entire moth above including palpi, front, antennae, etc., an even purplish-brown. Primaries without markings save a rather large, round, black discal spot and a terminal line indicated by a heightening in the ground color. Secondaries slightly paler toward base and showing a small discal dot and a terminal line as in fore wings. On the inner edge are faint indications of six transverse lines which extend only a short way into the wing. Beneath, all wings paler especially basally, and exceedingly faint indications of a geminate extra-discal and median lines are present on the primaries and several ill-defined, evenly rounded lines cross the secondaries. Discal spots small, scarcely discernible. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
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 Oregon. Holotype from Monterey, California.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period appears to be February to July. ( 5 ) , ( 4 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia purpurissata. 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 purpurissata - Hodges#7579 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Eupithecia purpurissata - Hodges#7579
What is Eupithecia purpurissata - Hodges#7579?
Eupithecia purpurissata - Hodges#7579 (Eupithecia purpurissata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Eupithecia purpurissata - Hodges#7579?
Grossbeck listed the wingspan 20-22 mm.
How do you identify Eupithecia purpurissata - Hodges#7579?
Grossbeck original description. In wing form like the ordinary type of Eupithecia , wings not unusually extended nor unusually broad. Front slightly protuberant, palpi extending a little beyond the front. Entire moth above including palpi, front, antennae, etc., an even purplish-brown. Primaries without markings save a rather large, round, black discal spot and a terminal line indicated by a heightening in the ground color. Secondaries slightly paler toward base and showing a small discal dot and a terminal line as in fore wings. On the inner edge are faint indications of six transverse lines which extend only a short way into the wing. Beneath, all wings paler especially basally, and exceedingly faint indications of a geminate extra-discal and median lines are present on the primaries and several ill-defined, evenly rounded lines cross the secondaries. Discal spots small, scarcely discernible. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Eupithecia purpurissata - Hodges#7579 found?
Range: California to Oregon. Holotype from Monterey, California.
When is Eupithecia purpurissata - Hodges#7579 active?
Eupithecia purpurissata - Hodges#7579: seasonal activity - The flight period appears to be February to July. ( 5 ) , ( 4 ).