Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653
Lycia rachelae
This record describes Lycia rachelae (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: wings reduced or absent in female, which cannot fly; male wings translucent gray with prominent black veins and dull orangish strip along costa; forewing with 3 dark lines crossing wing, middle line heaviest; hindwing with dark discal spot; male antennae pectinate; body of both sexes bulky, hairy, black with mix of pale hairlike scales and orange middorsal stripe on abdomen Larva: body gray with fine black and orange markings and white and orange lateral stripe Males very rarely appear at lights, likely because the flight finishes before full darkness sets in.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Bistonini
- Genus
- Lycia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
pine/oak barrens, boreal forest, early successional areas containing birch and poplar
Geographic Range
Alaska and Yukon south to northern California and Colorado, east to Quebec, Maine, and northern tier of northeastern states
Seasonal Activity
adult male flies from late March to early June; peak in April or the week after snow melt
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of alder, apple, birch, buffaloberry ( Shepherdia canadensis ), chokecherry, elm, poplar, willow, and other woody plants in the rose family adults do not feed
Life History
eggs are laid in goups under loose bark , and hatch in late spring or early summer; overwinters as a pupa in soil; one generation per year
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Twilight: adults are most active during the hour before sunset, possibly in response to the cold nights of early spring
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lycia rachelae. 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 Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653
What is Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653?
Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653 (Lycia rachelae) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653?
wingspan of males 35 - 37mm, females essentially wingless
How do you identify Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653?
Adult: wings reduced or absent in female, which cannot fly; male wings translucent gray with prominent black veins and dull orangish strip along costa; forewing with 3 dark lines crossing wing, middle line heaviest; hindwing with dark discal spot; male antennae pectinate; body of both sexes bulky, hairy, black with mix of pale hairlike scales and orange middorsal stripe on abdomen Larva: body gray with fine black and orange markings and white and orange lateral stripe
Where is Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | pine/oak barrens, boreal forest, early successional areas containing birch and poplar |
| Range | Alaska and Yukon south to northern California and Colorado, east to Quebec, Maine, and northern tier of northeastern states |
What does Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653 eat?
The diet of the Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653 includes larvae feed on leaves of alder, apple, birch, buffaloberry ( Shepherdia canadensis ), chokecherry, elm, poplar, willow, and other woody plants in the rose family adults do not feed.
When is Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653 active?
Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653: seasonal activity - adult male flies from late March to early June; peak in April or the week after snow melt.
What is the life cycle of a Twilight Moth - Hodges#6653?
eggs are laid in goups under loose bark , and hatch in late spring or early summer; overwinters as a pupa in soil; one generation per year