Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651
Lycia ursaria
This record describes Lycia ursaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: thorax and abdomen bulky, very hairy; male forewing broad, evenly gray, heavily speckled with black; three black wavy lines (sometimes broken) cross the wing; subterminal line white; hindwing similar but color more muted; female has reduced wings and does not fly A bulky and very hairy moth, easily mistaken for a noctuid, notodontid, or other non-geometrid moth
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
mixed and deciduous woods; males are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
southern Canada and northern United States, south to New Jersey and Iowa
Seasonal Activity
adult males fly from March to June Larvae are present from May to July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on the leaves of alder, apple, ash, basswood, birch, blueberry, dogwood, elm, hawthorn, poplar, willow and other broadleaved trees and shrubs
Life History
One generation per year Overwinters as pupae in the ground
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lycia ursaria. 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 Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by anitagould , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Marci Hess , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651
What is Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651?
Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651 (Lycia ursaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651?
wingspan to 45 mm Full grown larvae are 50mm
How do you identify Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651?
Adult: thorax and abdomen bulky, very hairy; male forewing broad, evenly gray, heavily speckled with black; three black wavy lines (sometimes broken) cross the wing; subterminal line white; hindwing similar but color more muted; female has reduced wings and does not fly
Where is Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | mixed and deciduous woods; males are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | southern Canada and northern United States, south to New Jersey and Iowa |
What does Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651 eat?
The diet of the Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651 includes Larvae feed on the leaves of alder, apple, ash, basswood, birch, blueberry, dogwood, elm, hawthorn, poplar, willow and other broadleaved trees and shrubs.
When is Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651 active?
Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651: seasonal activity - adult males fly from March to June Larvae are present from May to July.
What is the life cycle of a Stout Spanworm Moth - Hodges#6651?
One generation per year Overwinters as pupae in the ground