Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589
Iridopsis emasculatum
This record describes Iridopsis emasculatum (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - resembles Bent-line Gray ( Iridopsis larvaria ) but waviness of forewing PM line is more regular and has smaller amplitude, and hindwing PM line is not as sharply bent. Larva - green, yellow, or orange with irregular red bands.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Boarmiini
- Genus
- Iridopsis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia south to northern California, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Single flight from late May until mid-August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are woody plants; alder, maple, willow, and blueberry.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Iridopsis emasculatum. 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 Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589
What is Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589?
Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589 (Iridopsis emasculatum) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589?
Forewing length 15-18 mm.
How do you identify Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589?
Adult - resembles Bent-line Gray ( Iridopsis larvaria ) but waviness of forewing PM line is more regular and has smaller amplitude, and hindwing PM line is not as sharply bent. Larva - green, yellow, or orange with irregular red bands.
Where is Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589 found?
Range: British Columbia south to northern California, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas.
What does Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589 eat?
The diet of the Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589 includes Larval hosts are woody plants; alder, maple, willow, and blueberry..
When is Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589 active?
Iridopsis emasculatum - Hodges#6589: seasonal activity - Single flight from late May until mid-August..