Swett's Eupithecia - Hodges#7530
Eupithecia swettii
This record describes Eupithecia swettii (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Rindge description in PDF. Genitalia: ♀ ♂ male abdomen - 8th sternite is almost rectangular, with shallow basal cleft and flat at apex.
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
Quebec and Massachusetts in the north, to North Carolina in the southeast, and through Missouri and Kansas to Mississippi and eastern Texas
Seasonal Activity
southern specimens from January into April, with some May and July records in the north
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia swettii. 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 Swett's Eupithecia - Hodges#7530 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , JoAnneRusso , Blocky , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Swett's Eupithecia - Hodges#7530
What is Swett's Eupithecia - Hodges#7530?
Swett's Eupithecia - Hodges#7530 (Eupithecia swettii) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Swett's Eupithecia - Hodges#7530?
forewing length 8.5 - 10.5 mm
How do you identify Swett's Eupithecia - Hodges#7530?
Rindge description in PDF. Genitalia: ♀ ♂ male abdomen - 8th sternite is almost rectangular, with shallow basal cleft and flat at apex.
Where is Swett's Eupithecia - Hodges#7530 found?
Range: Quebec and Massachusetts in the north, to North Carolina in the southeast, and through Missouri and Kansas to Mississippi and eastern Texas
When is Swett's Eupithecia - Hodges#7530 active?
Swett's Eupithecia - Hodges#7530: seasonal activity - southern specimens from January into April, with some May and July records in the north.