Macaria grossbecki - Hodges#6315
Macaria grossbecki
This record describes Macaria grossbecki (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See this observation on iNaturalist for a living example. Ground color very pale gray to whitish. PM line slightly wavy and widely shaded on the inner 2/3, often emphasized in two thicker blotches. Row of 2 to 4 subapical black spots arranged in a row beyond the PM line. Small dark discal dot. Fringe mostly dark gray, contrasting with ground color of FW. Most likely to be confused with members of the Frederickia s-signata/cyda complex, but that group has a darker ground color to the FWs, a more sinuous PM line, lacks the row of subapical dots, usually lacks the discal dot, and has a fringe not contrasting much with the rest of the FW.
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
Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas (Cameron and Hidalgo Counties) Holotype collected in Brownsville, Texas.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria grossbecki. 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 grossbecki - Hodges#6315 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Macaria grossbecki - Hodges#6315
What is Macaria grossbecki - Hodges#6315?
Macaria grossbecki - Hodges#6315 (Macaria grossbecki) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Macaria grossbecki - Hodges#6315?
Ferguson listed the forewing length. ♂ 10-11.5 mm. (n=8) ♀ 11.5-12 mm. (n=6)
How do you identify Macaria grossbecki - Hodges#6315?
See this observation on iNaturalist for a living example. Ground color very pale gray to whitish. PM line slightly wavy and widely shaded on the inner 2/3, often emphasized in two thicker blotches. Row of 2 to 4 subapical black spots arranged in a row beyond the PM line. Small dark discal dot. Fringe mostly dark gray, contrasting with ground color of FW. Most likely to be confused with members of the Frederickia s-signata/cyda complex, but that group has a darker ground color to the FWs, a more sinuous PM line, lacks the row of subapical dots, usually lacks the discal dot, and has a fringe not contrasting much with the rest of the FW.
Where is Macaria grossbecki - Hodges#6315 found?
Range: Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas (Cameron and Hidalgo Counties) Holotype collected in Brownsville, Texas.