Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640
Lobophora nivigerata
This record describes Lobophora nivigerata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing powdery gray marked with four darker gray bands, heaviest at costa; discal spot diffuse, blackish; forewing in melanic specimens almost unmarked, dark gray; hindwing white with tiny black discal dot and faint median line [description by Charles Covell]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Lobophorini
- Genus
- Lobophora (Bigwing)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to Northwest Territories and British Columbia, plus northern states, south in the west to California and Utah, [south in the east to North Carolina - according to Covell's Guide, but the genus is not listed on this page from North Carolina State U.]
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed mainly on leaves of Trembling Aspen but also on Speckled Alder, White Birch, Balsam Poplar, Tamarack, and willow species
Life History
Larva; larva; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Lobophora nivigerata Walker, 1862 includes as a synonyms montanata Packard, 1874 with its synonym nocticolata Hulst, 1881, simsata Swett, 1920, magnoliatoidata Dyar, 1904, and canavestita Pearsall, 1906, (Schmidt & McGuinness in Pohl & Nanz (eds.) 2023).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lobophora nivigerata. 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 Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Mike Boone , Steve Nanz , Robin McLeod , anitagould , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640
What is Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640?
Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640 (Lobophora nivigerata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640?
wingspan 21-27 mm
How do you identify Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640?
Adult: forewing powdery gray marked with four darker gray bands, heaviest at costa; discal spot diffuse, blackish; forewing in melanic specimens almost unmarked, dark gray; hindwing white with tiny black discal dot and faint median line [description by Charles Covell]
Where is Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640 found?
Range: Newfoundland to Northwest Territories and British Columbia, plus northern states, south in the west to California and Utah, [south in the east to North Carolina - according to Covell's Guide, but the genus is not listed on this page from North Carolina State U.]
What does Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640 eat?
The diet of the Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640 includes larvae feed mainly on leaves of Trembling Aspen but also on Speckled Alder, White Birch, Balsam Poplar, Tamarack, and willow species.
When is Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640 active?
Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August.
What is the life cycle of a Powdered Bigwing - Hodges#7640?
Larva; larva; adult