Rippled Wave - Hodges#7123
Idaea obfusaria
This record describes Idaea obfusaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing crossed by 3 yellowish-brown wavy bands on a white background; the outermost band is thinner, darker, more jagged, and contains regularly-spaced small black dots. Each forewing and hindwing has a central large black spot.
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
Heppner included Arizona to Florida and north to Missouri and New Jersey. , , Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly May through early September.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Idaea obfusaria. 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 Rippled Wave - Hodges#7123 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by anitagould , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Rippled Wave - Hodges#7123
What is Rippled Wave - Hodges#7123?
Rippled Wave - Hodges#7123 (Idaea obfusaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rippled Wave - Hodges#7123?
Wingspan about 20 mm.
How do you identify Rippled Wave - Hodges#7123?
Forewing crossed by 3 yellowish-brown wavy bands on a white background; the outermost band is thinner, darker, more jagged, and contains regularly-spaced small black dots. Each forewing and hindwing has a central large black spot.
Where is Rippled Wave - Hodges#7123 found?
Range: Heppner included Arizona to Florida and north to Missouri and New Jersey. , , Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
When is Rippled Wave - Hodges#7123 active?
Rippled Wave - Hodges#7123: seasonal activity - Adults fly May through early September..