Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423
Hydrelia albifera
This record describes Hydrelia albifera (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing white with thick wavy yellow PM line, and thinner broken AM and ST lines; black discal dot on all wings; yellow bar on upper half of frons (the forehead) hindwing color and pattern similar to forewing
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Asthenini
- Genus
- Hydrelia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
deciduous and mixed woodlands; adults are attracted to light
Geographic Range
Throughout eastern US and Canada; possibly replaced by Hydrelia brunneifasciata west of the Rockies . Type locality ( albifera ): North America. Type locality ( albogilvaria ): USA: MA, NY. Type locality ( triseriata ): White Mountains, NH; Beverly, MA, Andover, MA; Albany, NY.
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of White Birch ( Betula papyrifera ) and dogwood ( Cornus spp.)
Life History
two generations per year in some areas; one in others (e.g. Alberta) Adults mating:
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hydrelia albifera. 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 Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , anitagould , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423
What is Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423?
Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423 (Hydrelia albifera) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423?
wingspan 16-18 mm
How do you identify Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423?
forewing white with thick wavy yellow PM line, and thinner broken AM and ST lines; black discal dot on all wings; yellow bar on upper half of frons (the forehead) hindwing color and pattern similar to forewing
Where is Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | deciduous and mixed woodlands; adults are attracted to light |
| Range | Throughout eastern US and Canada; possibly replaced by Hydrelia brunneifasciata west of the Rockies . Type locality ( albifera ): North America. Type locality ( albogilvaria ): USA: MA, NY. Type locality ( triseriata ): White Mountains, NH; Beverly, MA, Andover, MA; Albany, NY. |
What does Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423 eat?
The diet of the Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423 includes larvae feed on leaves of White Birch ( Betula papyrifera ) and dogwood ( Cornus spp.).
When is Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423 active?
Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August.
What is the life cycle of a Fragile White Carpet - Hodges#7423?
two generations per year in some areas; one in others (e.g. Alberta) Adults mating: