Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102
Idaea bonifata
This record describes Idaea bonifata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Larvae - see Riley's description of synonym Carphoxera ptelearia ( 108-113 ). One of the smallest geometrids found in North America.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sterrhinae
- Tribe
- Sterrhini
- Genus
- Idaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Widespread in the US and some parts of Canada
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is March to November with the peak in June.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva feed on decaying leaves and stored grains.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Idaea bonifata. 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 Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102
What is Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102?
Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102 (Idaea bonifata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102?
Forewing length 6-7 mm.
How do you identify Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102?
Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Larvae - see Riley's description of synonym Carphoxera ptelearia ( 108-113 ).
Where is Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102 found?
Range: Widespread in the US and some parts of Canada
What does Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102 eat?
The diet of the Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102 includes Larva feed on decaying leaves and stored grains..
When is Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102 active?
Fortunate Idaea - Hodges#7102: seasonal activity - The flight period is March to November with the peak in June..