Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179
Leptostales rubromarginaria
This record describes Leptostales rubromarginaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults of L. rubromarginaria and ferruminaria are both variable in color and markings, and resemble each other very closely. Charles Covell's Guide gives a distribution of southern Quebec to Florida, west across Canada... but CBIF does not list this species in Canada, except in British Columbia (and the Leptostales species that occurs from Quebec to Alberta is listed as ferruminaria ). Also, the list of Florida Lepidoptera includes L. ferruminaria but not rubromarginaria , so there seems to be confusion over the eastern distribution of these two species, neither of which is treated as a synonym or subspecies of the other. Along the west coast of United States and Canada, rubromarginaria is the only Leptostales species.
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
Southern British Columbia to central California , Arizona and Colorado. All the DNA determined specimens at lepbarcoding.org are from British Columbia and California. The notes below are older postings: *There is confusion or disagreement over the eastern distribution of L. rubromarginaria (see Remarks below) but in the west, this is the only species of Leptosales listed in British Columbia , California , and Oregon .
Seasonal Activity
There is a single flight from April to July.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host unknown, but adults are often seen near Prunus americana (American plum) * usda.gov - plant information.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leptostales rubromarginaria. 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 Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , anitagould , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179
What is Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179?
Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179 (Leptostales rubromarginaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan 14-20 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing length 8-9 mm. |
How do you identify Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179?
Adults of L. rubromarginaria and ferruminaria are both variable in color and markings, and resemble each other very closely.
Where is Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179 found?
Range: Southern British Columbia to central California , Arizona and Colorado. All the DNA determined specimens at lepbarcoding.org are from British Columbia and California. The notes below are older postings: *There is confusion or disagreement over the eastern distribution of L. rubromarginaria (see Remarks below) but in the west, this is the only species of Leptosales listed in British Columbia , California , and Oregon .
What does Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179 eat?
The diet of the Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179 includes Larval host unknown, but adults are often seen near Prunus americana (American plum) * usda.gov - plant information..
When is Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179 active?
Dark-ribboned Wave - Hodges#7179: seasonal activity - There is a single flight from April to July..