Macaria pallipennata - Hodges#6317
Macaria pallipennata
This record describes Macaria pallipennata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Macaria pallipennata is the most common of this species group in the Texas to Arizona area.
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
Dry mountainous areas from 3,400-5,300' elevation.
Geographic Range
Southern Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas. , Holotype collected in Redington, Arizona. Collection sites include Jeff Davis, Brewster, and Culberson counties in western Texas. Lincoln and Eddy counties in New Mexico. Cochise, Oracle, Pinal, Redington, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Madera counties in Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from April to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Ferguson reported the early stages and the larval host plant are unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria pallipennata. 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 pallipennata - Hodges#6317 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Macaria pallipennata - Hodges#6317
What is Macaria pallipennata - Hodges#6317?
Macaria pallipennata - Hodges#6317 (Macaria pallipennata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Macaria pallipennata - Hodges#6317?
Forewing length: ♂ 10-12 mm. ♀ 12-13.5 mm.
Where is Macaria pallipennata - Hodges#6317 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dry mountainous areas from 3,400-5,300' elevation. |
| Range | Southern Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas. , Holotype collected in Redington, Arizona. Collection sites include Jeff Davis, Brewster, and Culberson counties in western Texas. Lincoln and Eddy counties in New Mexico. Cochise, Oracle, Pinal, Redington, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Madera counties in Arizona. |
What does Macaria pallipennata - Hodges#6317 eat?
The diet of the Macaria pallipennata - Hodges#6317 includes Ferguson reported the early stages and the larval host plant are unknown..
When is Macaria pallipennata - Hodges#6317 active?
Macaria pallipennata - Hodges#6317: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from April to September..