Cross's Wave Moth - Hodges#7174
Leptostales crossii
This record describes Leptostales crossii (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing variably orangish-brown to purplish, with yellow strip along costa; 3 wavy yellow lines, sometimes broken or indistinct, in AM, median, and PM areas; note that lines are paler than ground color of wing; terminal line a series of yellow dots; hindwing has similar color and pattern
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sterrhinae
- Tribe
- Scopulini
- Genus
- Leptostales
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
southeastern United States: North Carolina to Florida, west to Texas
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leptostales crossii. 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 Cross's Wave Moth - Hodges#7174 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Cross's Wave Moth - Hodges#7174
What is Cross's Wave Moth - Hodges#7174?
Cross's Wave Moth - Hodges#7174 (Leptostales crossii) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cross's Wave Moth - Hodges#7174?
wingspan about 13-14 mm, based on photos by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Cross's Wave Moth - Hodges#7174?
Adult: forewing variably orangish-brown to purplish, with yellow strip along costa; 3 wavy yellow lines, sometimes broken or indistinct, in AM, median, and PM areas; note that lines are paler than ground color of wing; terminal line a series of yellow dots; hindwing has similar color and pattern
Where is Cross's Wave Moth - Hodges#7174 found?
Range: southeastern United States: North Carolina to Florida, west to Texas