Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353
Macaria multilineata
This record describes Macaria multilineata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light gray with brownish tint beyond PM line; AM, median, and PM lines straight, dark, usually conspicuous and with sharp bend near costa; subterminal line a shallow whitish arc extending from apex to anal angle; terminal line thin, dark; outer margin falcate near apex; hindwing similarly colored but with dark discal spot between median and PM lines; prominent point about half-way along outer margin Larva: body greenish with dark and pale stripes interrupted by spots; middorsal stripe dark green with irregular white spots in breaks; subdorsal stripe white interrupted by dark olive-green spots; spiracular stripe white, fragmented with dark olive-green spots in gaps; hind margin of each segment has yellowish band; head dark grayish-green; prothoracic shield greenish with large dark green spot laterally; thoracic legs dark green, becoming increasingly yellow toward tip [adapted from description at USDA Forest Service ]
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
New England, New York, and Ontario to Florida, west to Oklahoma and Iowa
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to September larvae present from June to November
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of Atlantic White Cedar ( Chamaecyparis thyoides ) and Eastern Redcedar ( Juniperus virginiana )
Life History
one or two generations per year; overwinters as a pupa in soil or debris
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria multilineata. 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 Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353
What is Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353?
Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353 (Macaria multilineata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353?
wingspan 26-28 mm, based on several Internet photos larva length to 25 mm
How do you identify Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353?
Adult: forewing light gray with brownish tint beyond PM line; AM, median, and PM lines straight, dark, usually conspicuous and with sharp bend near costa; subterminal line a shallow whitish arc extending from apex to anal angle; terminal line thin, dark; outer margin falcate near apex; hindwing similarly colored but with dark discal spot between median and PM lines; prominent point about half-way along outer margin Larva: body greenish with dark and pale stripes interrupted by spots; middorsal stripe dark green with irregular white spots in breaks; subdorsal stripe white interrupted by dark olive-green spots; spiracular stripe white, fragmented with dark olive-green spots in gaps; hind margin of each segment has yellowish band; head dark grayish-green; prothoracic shield greenish with large dark green spot laterally; thoracic legs dark green, becoming increasingly yellow toward tip [adapted from description at USDA Forest Service ]
Where is Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353 found?
Range: New England, New York, and Ontario to Florida, west to Oklahoma and Iowa
What does Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353 eat?
The diet of the Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353 includes larvae feed on leaves of Atlantic White Cedar ( Chamaecyparis thyoides ) and Eastern Redcedar ( Juniperus virginiana ).
When is Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353 active?
Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to September larvae present from June to November.
What is the life cycle of a Many-lined Angle - Hodges#6353?
one or two generations per year; overwinters as a pupa in soil or debris