Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451
Glena interpunctata
This record describes Glena interpunctata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
One of the largest species in the group. The specimens from Arizona to Texas have only dots for a postmedial line and the northern population has a bolder solid line. When the median line is visible it converges with the postmedial line near the inner margin. The Rindge description of the abdomen does not mention distinct black and white banding of segments for this species, but does specifically mention this banding for G. quinquelinearia and describes the abdomen of mcdunnougharia as similar to that of quinquelinearia . Rindge states this prominent black and white abdominal banding is lacking in previously described Group III species including interpunctata . Description by Sperry specifically mentions lack of black and white banding on the abdominal segments as a characteristic to separate interpunctata from quinquelinearia and mcdunnougharia .
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
Geographic Range
Arizona to western Texas, north to Utah and Colorado
Seasonal Activity
mid-April to early September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval foodplant in the Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas is alligator juniper, Juniperus deppeana Steud.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Glena interpunctata. 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 Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451
What is Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451?
Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451 (Glena interpunctata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451?
Forewing length 14-20 mm.
How do you identify Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451?
One of the largest species in the group. The specimens from Arizona to Texas have only dots for a postmedial line and the northern population has a bolder solid line. When the median line is visible it converges with the postmedial line near the inner margin. The Rindge description of the abdomen does not mention distinct black and white banding of segments for this species, but does specifically mention this banding for G. quinquelinearia and describes the abdomen of mcdunnougharia as similar to that of quinquelinearia . Rindge states this prominent black and white abdominal banding is lacking in previously described Group III species including interpunctata . Description by Sperry specifically mentions lack of black and white banding on the abdominal segments as a characteristic to separate interpunctata from quinquelinearia and mcdunnougharia .
Where is Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451 found?
Range: Arizona to western Texas, north to Utah and Colorado
What does Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451 eat?
The diet of the Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451 includes Larval foodplant in the Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas is alligator juniper, Juniperus deppeana Steud..
When is Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451 active?
Glena interpunctata - Hodges#6451: seasonal activity - mid-April to early September.