Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282
Macaria argillacearia
This record describes Macaria argillacearia (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
light mouse gray forewings with little or no markings
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Macariini
- Genus
- Macaria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
New England states from Penobscot, Maine, east to Wisconsin and south to West Virginia; southern Quebec and Ontario.
Seasonal Activity
adults fly late May to late July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval host is blueberry ( Vaccinium )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria argillacearia. 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 Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282
What is Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282?
Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282 (Macaria argillacearia) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282?
forewing length: males 12-15 mm females 11-14 mm
How do you identify Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282?
light mouse gray forewings with little or no markings
Where is Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282 found?
Range: New England states from Penobscot, Maine, east to Wisconsin and south to West Virginia; southern Quebec and Ontario.
What does Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282 eat?
The diet of the Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282 includes larval host is blueberry ( Vaccinium ).
When is Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282 active?
Mousy Angle Moth - Hodges#6282: seasonal activity - adults fly late May to late July.