Macaria occiduaria - Hodges#6279
Macaria occiduaria
This record describes Macaria occiduaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing has brown PM band extending from the anal margin about midway to the costa and the fringe is brown from the apex to the midway point. Females have reduced forewings and seldom fly. Detailed description of occiduaria and the recently synonymized andersoni are available in MONA Fascicle 17-2 at the link in citations below. According to Moth Photographers Group, Macaria andersoni was synonymized with occiduaria in 2010.
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
Transcontinental in Canada and the bordering northern U.S. states, south to Colorado in the west.
Seasonal Activity
mid-June to late August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host plants are various broad-leafed trees and shrubs.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria occiduaria. 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 occiduaria - Hodges#6279 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Macaria occiduaria - Hodges#6279
What is Macaria occiduaria - Hodges#6279?
Macaria occiduaria - Hodges#6279 (Macaria occiduaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Macaria occiduaria - Hodges#6279?
Forewing length 10-17 mm.
How do you identify Macaria occiduaria - Hodges#6279?
Forewing has brown PM band extending from the anal margin about midway to the costa and the fringe is brown from the apex to the midway point. Females have reduced forewings and seldom fly. Detailed description of occiduaria and the recently synonymized andersoni are available in MONA Fascicle 17-2 at the link in citations below.
Where is Macaria occiduaria - Hodges#6279 found?
Range: Transcontinental in Canada and the bordering northern U.S. states, south to Colorado in the west.
What does Macaria occiduaria - Hodges#6279 eat?
The diet of the Macaria occiduaria - Hodges#6279 includes Larval host plants are various broad-leafed trees and shrubs..
When is Macaria occiduaria - Hodges#6279 active?
Macaria occiduaria - Hodges#6279: seasonal activity - mid-June to late August.