Eupithecia russeliata - Hodges#7526
Eupithecia russeliata
This record describes Eupithecia russeliata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
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
McDunnough included the eastern United States and Canada. Moth Photographers includes northern California, and expands the Canadian range to include Alberta. , Holotype ♂ Winchendon, Massachusetts (M.C.Z., ex. collection Swett).
Seasonal Activity
The adults appear to be most common from May to October. ( 3 ) McDunnough (1949) reported April to June. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: McDunnough (1949) reported larvae feeding on spruce. ( 4 ) Ferguson (1975) reported two larval host plants. ( 5 ) Rhododendron canadense Kalmia augustifolia
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia russeliata. 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 russeliata - Hodges#7526 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Eupithecia russeliata - Hodges#7526
How big is Eupithecia russeliata - Hodges#7526?
The wingspan is about 18 mm.
How do you identify Eupithecia russeliata - Hodges#7526?
Genitalia: ♂ ♀
Where is Eupithecia russeliata - Hodges#7526 found?
Range: McDunnough included the eastern United States and Canada. Moth Photographers includes northern California, and expands the Canadian range to include Alberta. , Holotype ♂ Winchendon, Massachusetts (M.C.Z., ex. collection Swett).
What does Eupithecia russeliata - Hodges#7526 eat?
The diet of the Eupithecia russeliata - Hodges#7526 includes McDunnough (1949) reported larvae feeding on spruce. ( 4 ) Ferguson (1975) reported two larval host plants. ( 5 ) Rhododendron canadense Kalmia augustifolia.
When is Eupithecia russeliata - Hodges#7526 active?
Eupithecia russeliata - Hodges#7526: seasonal activity - The adults appear to be most common from May to October. ( 3 ) McDunnough (1949) reported April to June. ( 4 ).