Showy Wave - Hodges#7121
Idaea ostentaria
This record describes Idaea ostentaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: wings white with dense dark speckling, prominent black discal spot, and toothed PM line; AM and median lines variably distinct to indistinct; terminal line a series of black dashes; fringe scales of variable length and somewhat disorderly, giving a ragged-edged appearance
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
North Carolina to Florida
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in spring
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Idaea ostentaria. 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 Showy Wave - Hodges#7121 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod
Frequently Asked Questions About Showy Wave - Hodges#7121
What is Showy Wave - Hodges#7121?
Showy Wave - Hodges#7121 (Idaea ostentaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Showy Wave - Hodges#7121?
wingspan about 16 mm, based on Jim Vargo's photo at MPG
How do you identify Showy Wave - Hodges#7121?
Adult: wings white with dense dark speckling, prominent black discal spot, and toothed PM line; AM and median lines variably distinct to indistinct; terminal line a series of black dashes; fringe scales of variable length and somewhat disorderly, giving a ragged-edged appearance
Where is Showy Wave - Hodges#7121 found?
Range: North Carolina to Florida
When is Showy Wave - Hodges#7121 active?
Showy Wave - Hodges#7121: seasonal activity - adults fly in spring.