Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577
Iridopsis obliquaria
This record describes Iridopsis obliquaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Identification notes
Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
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
Habitat
The Sonoran zone from the Mojave Desert of California to the Trans-Pecos area and the Edwards Plateau in Texas.
Geographic Range
Common in Arizona, fewer numbers in southern and eastern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, southern Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from March to July in California. Year round in southern Arizona.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Hooker & Arnott reported the larval host as western soapberry ( Sapindus drummondii ). BugGuide record on catclaw mimosa ( Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera ).
Life History
Larva:
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Iridopsis obliquaria. 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 Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ethan Friedman; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Jason D. Roberts , margarethe brummermann , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577
What is Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577?
Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577 (Iridopsis obliquaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577?
Forewing length 14-19 mm.
How do you identify Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577?
Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | The Sonoran zone from the Mojave Desert of California to the Trans-Pecos area and the Edwards Plateau in Texas. |
| Range | Common in Arizona, fewer numbers in southern and eastern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, southern Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. |
What does Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577 eat?
The diet of the Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577 includes Hooker & Arnott reported the larval host as western soapberry ( Sapindus drummondii ). BugGuide record on catclaw mimosa ( Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera )..
When is Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577 active?
Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577: seasonal activity - Adults fly from March to July in California. Year round in southern Arizona..
What is the life cycle of a Oblique Looper Moth - Hodges#6577?
Larva: