Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695
Ixala desperaria
This record describes Ixala desperaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
one round white spot near middle of hindwing
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Caberini
- Genus
- Ixala
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia to western South Dakota and south to Arizona and Colorado. , ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May to August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae from Arizona have been known to feed on Ceanothus fendleri .
Life History
Larvae have a brown and green. (polymorphic)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ixala desperaria. 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 Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695
What is Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695?
Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695 (Ixala desperaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695?
forewing 14-16 mm
How do you identify Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695?
one round white spot near middle of hindwing
Where is Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695 found?
Range: British Columbia to western South Dakota and south to Arizona and Colorado. , ,
What does Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695 eat?
The diet of the Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695 includes Larvae from Arizona have been known to feed on Ceanothus fendleri ..
When is Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695 active?
Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May to August..
What is the life cycle of a Ixala desperaria - Hodges#6695?
Larvae have a brown and green. (polymorphic)