Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324
Macaria lorquinaria
This record describes Macaria lorquinaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing variably light gray to light brownish-yellow with 3 dark spots in subterminal area -- two together near costa and one about mid-way across wing; PM line gently wavy, and AM line straight, both lines dark with pale edge along medial side, and both lines stop before reaching costa; discal spot consists of a short oblique dash; usually some darker shading beyond PM line; hindwing paler than forewing, lightly speckled, with faint discal spot and indistinct whitish PM line Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
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
California to British Columbia
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August in California
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of alder, birch, willow, Grand Fir, and Douglas-fir
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria lorquinaria. 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 Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by ceiseman , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324
What is Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324?
Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324 (Macaria lorquinaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324?
wingspan about 26-27 mm, based on three Internet photos
How do you identify Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324?
Adult: forewing variably light gray to light brownish-yellow with 3 dark spots in subterminal area -- two together near costa and one about mid-way across wing; PM line gently wavy, and AM line straight, both lines dark with pale edge along medial side, and both lines stop before reaching costa; discal spot consists of a short oblique dash; usually some darker shading beyond PM line; hindwing paler than forewing, lightly speckled, with faint discal spot and indistinct whitish PM line Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324 found?
Range: California to British Columbia
What does Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324 eat?
The diet of the Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324 includes larvae feed on leaves of alder, birch, willow, Grand Fir, and Douglas-fir.
When is Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324 active?
Lorquin's Angle - Hodges#6324: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August in California.