Lithostege marcata - Hodges#7630
Lithostege marcata
This record describes Lithostege marcata (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
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Chesiadini
- Genus
- Lithostege
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western Texas, New Mexico. Holotype ♀ South New Mexico, United States, Collector: Poling.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The host plant is unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lithostege marcata. 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 Lithostege marcata - Hodges#7630 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Lithostege marcata - Hodges#7630
How big is Lithostege marcata - Hodges#7630?
Barnes & McDunnough (1916) reported a wingspan of 25 mm.
Where is Lithostege marcata - Hodges#7630 found?
Range: Western Texas, New Mexico. Holotype ♀ South New Mexico, United States, Collector: Poling.
What does Lithostege marcata - Hodges#7630 eat?
The diet of the Lithostege marcata - Hodges#7630 includes The host plant is unknown..