Macaria flavicaria - Hodges#6276
Macaria flavicaria
This record describes Macaria flavicaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Males are light yellowish brown with a dark forewing discal spot.
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
7,000-8800' elevations in Colorado and as low as 6,050' in New Mexico. Adults usually found near patches of Ribes (currants)
Geographic Range
Colorado to New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. Macaria flavicaria is replaced by S. helena in areas of western Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, eastern Washington and eastern Oregon.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly late June to early August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval host is uncertain but suspected to be Ribes (currants).
Life History
unknown
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria flavicaria. 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 flavicaria - Hodges#6276 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Macaria flavicaria - Hodges#6276
What is Macaria flavicaria - Hodges#6276?
Macaria flavicaria - Hodges#6276 (Macaria flavicaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Macaria flavicaria - Hodges#6276?
Males are light yellowish brown with a dark forewing discal spot.
Where is Macaria flavicaria - Hodges#6276 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | 7,000-8800' elevations in Colorado and as low as 6,050' in New Mexico. Adults usually found near patches of Ribes (currants) |
| Range | Colorado to New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. Macaria flavicaria is replaced by S. helena in areas of western Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, eastern Washington and eastern Oregon. |
What does Macaria flavicaria - Hodges#6276 eat?
The diet of the Macaria flavicaria - Hodges#6276 includes The larval host is uncertain but suspected to be Ribes (currants)..
When is Macaria flavicaria - Hodges#6276 active?
Macaria flavicaria - Hodges#6276: seasonal activity - Adults fly late June to early August.
What is the life cycle of a Macaria flavicaria - Hodges#6276?
unknown