Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781
Gabriola dyari
This record describes Gabriola dyari (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: body slender; antennae pectinate (at least in males); forewing brownish-gray with black speckling and lines; AM and PM lines thick, AM line slightly curved, PM line zigzagged or sinuate; two or three black wedges at costa near apex; diffuse whitish patches in basal and anal angle areas; hindwing uniformly brownish-gray except dark thin terminal line. For additional information see Ringe's description Larva: head light tan with reddish-brown mottling, vertex moderately cleft; body stocky with numerous swellings, rusty brown to gray with white dorsal patches on the second, fourth, and eighth abdominal segments [adapted from description at Canadian Forest Service] The larva at rest resembles a bird dropping, but it can contort its body into a configuration that looks like a male cone of conifers. Page is currently being updated. July 13, 2018 @ 9 pm Central. Please check back
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Nacophorini
- Genus
- Gabriola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
coniferous forests
Geographic Range
Alaskan panhandle and British Columbia to California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to October in California larvae from May to July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on foliage of coniferous trees: principal hosts are Western Hemlock and Douglas-fir; other hosts include Western Red Cedar, Amabilis Fir, Grand Fir, Subalpine Fir, Engelmann Spruce, Mountain Hemlock
Life History
one generation per year; overwinters as an egg; pupation occurs in a cocoon on a twig in August, and lasts for approximately 26 days
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific name dyari is named in honor of the USDA entomologist Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. (1866-1929), who described hundreds of species and genera of lepidoptera.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gabriola dyari. 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 Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781
What is Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781?
Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781 (Gabriola dyari) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781?
wingspan 25-30 mm larva length to 20 mm
How do you identify Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781?
Adult: body slender; antennae pectinate (at least in males); forewing brownish-gray with black speckling and lines; AM and PM lines thick, AM line slightly curved, PM line zigzagged or sinuate; two or three black wedges at costa near apex; diffuse whitish patches in basal and anal angle areas; hindwing uniformly brownish-gray except dark thin terminal line. For additional information see Ringe's description Larva: head light tan with reddish-brown mottling, vertex moderately cleft; body stocky with numerous swellings, rusty brown to gray with white dorsal patches on the second, fourth, and eighth abdominal segments [adapted from description at Canadian Forest Service]
Where is Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | coniferous forests |
| Range | Alaskan panhandle and British Columbia to California |
What does Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781 eat?
The diet of the Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781 includes larvae feed on foliage of coniferous trees: principal hosts are Western Hemlock and Douglas-fir; other hosts include Western Red Cedar, Amabilis Fir, Grand Fir, Subalpine Fir, Engelmann Spruce, Mountain Hemlock.
When is Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781 active?
Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to October in California larvae from May to July.
What is the life cycle of a Dyar's Looper - Hodges#6781?
one generation per year; overwinters as an egg; pupation occurs in a cocoon on a twig in August, and lasts for approximately 26 days