Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312
Macaria deceptrix
This record describes Macaria deceptrix (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Hindwing is gray or grayish brown compared to the yellowish color of Macaria graphidaria . Genitalia:
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
AZ to s. TX / (+ Mex.?) - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Apr-Oct (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval foodplant is Condalia (Rhamnaceae)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Deceptrix from Latin deceptr meaning "deceived".
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria deceptrix. 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 Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , ceiseman , Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy , A. Hendrickson , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312
What is Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312?
Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312 (Macaria deceptrix) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312?
Male WL 9-13 mm Female WL 9-11 mm Ann Hendrickson from D. C. Ferguson 2009
How do you identify Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312?
Hindwing is gray or grayish brown compared to the yellowish color of Macaria graphidaria . Genitalia:
Where is Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312 found?
Range: AZ to s. TX / (+ Mex.?) - Map (MPG)
What does Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312 eat?
The diet of the Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312 includes Larval foodplant is Condalia (Rhamnaceae).
When is Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312 active?
Macaria deceptrix - Hodges#6312: seasonal activity - Apr-Oct (MPG).