Hydriomena exculpata - Hodges#7223
Hydriomena exculpata
This record describes Hydriomena exculpata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Hindwing is brownish with a dark discal spot and angled postmedial line. Photo from Libby & Rick Avis of a specimen identified by DNA
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Hydriomenini
- Genus
- Hydriomena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Across all of southern Canada and south in the Coast Range to Califonia and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado; Alaska. (Type locality: Ketchikan, Alaska) * Known in the Southern Appalachians from a single specimen collected on the top of Mount Mitchell.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May through June in Alaska and later in areas further south.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Appears to be single brooded throughout the range.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hydriomena exculpata. 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 Hydriomena exculpata - Hodges#7223 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Hydriomena exculpata - Hodges#7223
What is Hydriomena exculpata - Hodges#7223?
Hydriomena exculpata - Hodges#7223 (Hydriomena exculpata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Hydriomena exculpata - Hodges#7223?
wingspan 30-34 mm
How do you identify Hydriomena exculpata - Hodges#7223?
Hindwing is brownish with a dark discal spot and angled postmedial line. Photo from Libby & Rick Avis of a specimen identified by DNA
Where is Hydriomena exculpata - Hodges#7223 found?
Range: Across all of southern Canada and south in the Coast Range to Califonia and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado; Alaska. (Type locality: Ketchikan, Alaska) * Known in the Southern Appalachians from a single specimen collected on the top of Mount Mitchell.
When is Hydriomena exculpata - Hodges#7223 active?
Hydriomena exculpata - Hodges#7223: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May through June in Alaska and later in areas further south..
What is the life cycle of a Hydriomena exculpata - Hodges#7223?
Appears to be single brooded throughout the range.