Macaria graphidaria - Hodges#6311
Macaria graphidaria
This record describes Macaria graphidaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing white with black discal dot, complete AM and PM lines, and partial median line; PM line turns abruptly basad before reaching costa; blackish patch near middle of subterminal area; amount of reddish-brown shading in subterminal area varies from extensive to almost none; hindwing pale yellowish with black discal dot and light gray speckling and shading 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
Habitat
mesquite-oak savanna
Geographic Range
Known from only southern Texas with Kimble County being the northern limit and Big Bend National Park of western Texas Type locality: TX
Seasonal Activity
adults fly year round in south Texas
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae have been found on Bumelia celastrina and reared on Condalia hookeri
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Formerly in Speranza . Sihvonen & Skou (2015:142) treats Speranza as a synonym of Macaria following Krüger and Scoble & Krüger 2002), reversing Ferguson.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria graphidaria. 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 graphidaria - Hodges#6311 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , ceiseman , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Macaria graphidaria - Hodges#6311
What is Macaria graphidaria - Hodges#6311?
Macaria graphidaria - Hodges#6311 (Macaria graphidaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Macaria graphidaria - Hodges#6311?
Forewing length is 10-13 mm in males 11-13 mm in females with the winter and early spring individuals being slightly larger than summer specimens.
How do you identify Macaria graphidaria - Hodges#6311?
Adult: forewing white with black discal dot, complete AM and PM lines, and partial median line; PM line turns abruptly basad before reaching costa; blackish patch near middle of subterminal area; amount of reddish-brown shading in subterminal area varies from extensive to almost none; hindwing pale yellowish with black discal dot and light gray speckling and shading Genitalia:
Where is Macaria graphidaria - Hodges#6311 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | mesquite-oak savanna |
| Range | Known from only southern Texas with Kimble County being the northern limit and Big Bend National Park of western Texas Type locality: TX |
What does Macaria graphidaria - Hodges#6311 eat?
The diet of the Macaria graphidaria - Hodges#6311 includes larvae have been found on Bumelia celastrina and reared on Condalia hookeri.
When is Macaria graphidaria - Hodges#6311 active?
Macaria graphidaria - Hodges#6311: seasonal activity - adults fly year round in south Texas.