Fine-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6478
Exelis pyrolaria
This record describes Exelis pyrolaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See an extended discussion of the problems of Exelis identification in Dave Barker's journal post on iNaturalist and comments on that post.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Boarmiini
- Genus
- Exelis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
East of the Mississippi River and south of Illinois and the District of Columbia. Moth Photographers Group mapping data should be viewed with caution.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include: Chimaphila umbellata (pipsissewa) * USDA plant profile Diospyros virginiana (common persimmon) * USDA plant profile and larvae were reared on two other unknown plants.(Pergande)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Exelis pyrolaria. 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 Fine-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6478 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by anitagould , Maury Heiman , Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Fine-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6478
What is Fine-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6478?
Fine-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6478 (Exelis pyrolaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fine-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6478?
wingspan: females 22 - 25 mm. males 19-24 mm. Larva - 17 mm.
Where is Fine-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6478 found?
Range: East of the Mississippi River and south of Illinois and the District of Columbia. Moth Photographers Group mapping data should be viewed with caution.
What does Fine-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6478 eat?
The diet of the Fine-lined Gray Moth - Hodges#6478 includes Larval hosts include: Chimaphila umbellata (pipsissewa) * USDA plant profile Diospyros virginiana (common persimmon) * USDA plant profile and larvae were reared on two other unknown plants.(Pergande).