Macaria exauspicata - Hodges#6292
Macaria exauspicata
This record describes Macaria exauspicata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Key forewing features: Four evenly spaced brown to rust shaded wedges along the costa. Well defined dark discal spot. Often has brown shaded area below the postmedian line. Brown spot or patch is usually present in the subterminal area.
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
Widespread across southern Canada and northern United States. In the eastern states it is found south to West Virginia; in the western states south to Siskiyo and Placer counties, California. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from late June to early August, with peak in July.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include: Bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata (Douglas ex Hook.) D. Dietr. American elm, Ulmus americana L. Birch, Betula L. Alder, Alnus Mill. Willow, Salix L. Cottonwood, Populus L.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria exauspicata. 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 exauspicata - Hodges#6292 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Macaria exauspicata - Hodges#6292
What is Macaria exauspicata - Hodges#6292?
Macaria exauspicata - Hodges#6292 (Macaria exauspicata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Macaria exauspicata - Hodges#6292?
Forewing length: ♂ 11-16 mm. ♀ 12-16 mm
How do you identify Macaria exauspicata - Hodges#6292?
Key forewing features: Four evenly spaced brown to rust shaded wedges along the costa. Well defined dark discal spot. Often has brown shaded area below the postmedian line. Brown spot or patch is usually present in the subterminal area.
Where is Macaria exauspicata - Hodges#6292 found?
Range: Widespread across southern Canada and northern United States. In the eastern states it is found south to West Virginia; in the western states south to Siskiyo and Placer counties, California. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection dates.
What does Macaria exauspicata - Hodges#6292 eat?
The diet of the Macaria exauspicata - Hodges#6292 includes Larval hosts include: Bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata (Douglas ex Hook.) D. Dietr. American elm, Ulmus americana L. Birch, Betula L. Alder, Alnus Mill. Willow, Salix L. Cottonwood, Populus L..
When is Macaria exauspicata - Hodges#6292 active?
Macaria exauspicata - Hodges#6292: seasonal activity - Adults fly from late June to early August, with peak in July..