Hypomecis buchholzaria - Hodges#6438
Hypomecis buchholzaria
This record describes Hypomecis buchholzaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Uncommon throughout the range. Listed as endangered by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. PDF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Boarmiini
- Genus
- Hypomecis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Heppner (2003) listed the range to include Georgia and Florida to Texas. ( 3 ) There are scatter records northward to Massachusetts. ( 4 ) , ( 5 )
Seasonal Activity
Heppner (2003) reported January to March, May, July for Florida. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) listed the following host plants. ( 3 ) Comptonia peregrina var. asplenifolia (sweetfern) Myricaceae. Myrica sp. (bayberry) Myricaceae.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of New Jersey Lepidopterist and collector Otto Buchholz (1874-1958).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hypomecis buchholzaria. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hypomecis buchholzaria - Hodges#6438
What is Hypomecis buchholzaria - Hodges#6438?
Hypomecis buchholzaria - Hodges#6438 (Hypomecis buchholzaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Hypomecis buchholzaria - Hodges#6438?
Wingspan 32-36 mm.
Where is Hypomecis buchholzaria - Hodges#6438 found?
Range: Heppner (2003) listed the range to include Georgia and Florida to Texas. ( 3 ) There are scatter records northward to Massachusetts. ( 4 ) , ( 5 )
What does Hypomecis buchholzaria - Hodges#6438 eat?
The diet of the Hypomecis buchholzaria - Hodges#6438 includes Heppner (2003) listed the following host plants. ( 3 ) Comptonia peregrina var. asplenifolia (sweetfern) Myricaceae. Myrica sp. (bayberry) Myricaceae..
When is Hypomecis buchholzaria - Hodges#6438 active?
Hypomecis buchholzaria - Hodges#6438: seasonal activity - Heppner (2003) reported January to March, May, July for Florida. ( 3 ).