Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450
Glena cognataria
This record describes Glena cognataria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Tephrosia cognataria Packard, is available in PDF and online at the link in the print references below. This grayish brown species is the smallest in the group. Fresh specimens will have a pink or violet tint and all wing markings are weak. (diagnostic charcters) Females are slightly darker and larger than males. Larva mature to 3 cm. - Population appears to be on the decline in New York.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Boarmiini
- Genus
- Glena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Bogs and pine barrens. , ,
Geographic Range
Florida to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. , , Type locality: USA: Pennsylvania. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Most records of adults are from March to August; year round in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Rindge , lists Vaccinium L. (blueberry). Wagner , lists blueberry along with many hardwoods such as oak, maple, cherry, willow and poplar.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Glena cognataria. 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 Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450
What is Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450?
Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450 (Glena cognataria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450?
Forewing length 13-15 mm.
How do you identify Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450?
The original description as Tephrosia cognataria Packard, is available in PDF and online at the link in the print references below. This grayish brown species is the smallest in the group. Fresh specimens will have a pink or violet tint and all wing markings are weak. (diagnostic charcters) Females are slightly darker and larger than males. Larva mature to 3 cm. -
Where is Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Bogs and pine barrens. , |
| Range | Florida to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. , , Type locality: USA: Pennsylvania. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. |
What does Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450 eat?
The diet of the Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450 includes Rindge , lists Vaccinium L. (blueberry). Wagner , lists blueberry along with many hardwoods such as oak, maple, cherry, willow and poplar..
When is Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450 active?
Blueberry Gray Moth - Hodges#6450: seasonal activity - Most records of adults are from March to August; year round in Florida..