Speranza colata - Hodges#6308
Macaria colata
This record describes Macaria colata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Grote (1881) description as Phasiane colata is online in the print references.
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.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Purshia glandulosa (desert bitterbush). ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria colata. 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 Speranza colata - Hodges#6308 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chris Mallory; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Speranza colata - Hodges#6308
What is Speranza colata - Hodges#6308?
Speranza colata - Hodges#6308 (Macaria colata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Speranza colata - Hodges#6308?
Ferguson listed the forewing length. ♂ 12-14 mm. ♀ 11-13 mm.
How do you identify Speranza colata - Hodges#6308?
Grote (1881) description as Phasiane colata is online in the print references.
What does Speranza colata - Hodges#6308 eat?
The diet of the Speranza colata - Hodges#6308 includes Purshia glandulosa (desert bitterbush). ( 3 ).