Pale-winged Gray - Hodges#6583
Iridopsis ephyraria
This record describes Iridopsis ephyraria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
United States and southern Canada east of the Rockies: New Brunswick to Florida, west to Texas, north to Alberta
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on many species of woody plants: ash, Balsam Fir, birch, chokecherry, Eastern Hemlock, elm, gooseberry, maple, willow
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Iridopsis ephyraria. 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 Pale-winged Gray - Hodges#6583 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Pale-winged Gray - Hodges#6583
How big is Pale-winged Gray - Hodges#6583?
wingspan 23-28 mm
Where is Pale-winged Gray - Hodges#6583 found?
Range: United States and southern Canada east of the Rockies: New Brunswick to Florida, west to Texas, north to Alberta
What does Pale-winged Gray - Hodges#6583 eat?
The diet of the Pale-winged Gray - Hodges#6583 includes larvae feed on many species of woody plants: ash, Balsam Fir, birch, chokecherry, Eastern Hemlock, elm, gooseberry, maple, willow.
When is Pale-winged Gray - Hodges#6583 active?
Pale-winged Gray - Hodges#6583: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to September.