Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299
Macaria coortaria
This record describes Macaria coortaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: Forewing light cream to light gray-brown with four dark spots evenly spaced along costa; all spots similar size except distal one usually smaller and fainter. Hindwing white to pale yellow with a few dark scales along inner margin. Type locality: Texas
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
Habitat
Open woodlands containing larval foodplant.
Geographic Range
Saskatchewan to Maine to Florida , west to Texas and Colorado
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from June to August in the north; April to November in the south.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of apple, cherry, hawthorn, pear, willow.
Life History
One generation per year in the north, two in the south with November adults seen in Florida.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria coortaria. 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 Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by anitagould , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299
What is Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299?
Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299 (Macaria coortaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299?
Wingspan 22-26 mm. with females averaging the larger size.
How do you identify Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299?
Adult: Forewing light cream to light gray-brown with four dark spots evenly spaced along costa; all spots similar size except distal one usually smaller and fainter. Hindwing white to pale yellow with a few dark scales along inner margin. Type locality: Texas
Where is Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open woodlands containing larval foodplant. |
| Range | Saskatchewan to Maine to Florida , west to Texas and Colorado |
What does Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299 eat?
The diet of the Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299 includes Larvae feed on leaves of apple, cherry, hawthorn, pear, willow..
When is Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299 active?
Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299: seasonal activity - Adults fly from June to August in the north; April to November in the south..
What is the life cycle of a Four-spotted Macaria - Hodges#6299?
One generation per year in the north, two in the south with November adults seen in Florida.