Macaria schatzeata - Hodges#6310
Macaria schatzeata
This record describes Macaria schatzeata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Ferguson reported the species is limited to western Texas and southeastern New Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Ferguson reported the months of March, May to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Ferguson reported the early stages and host plants unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria schatzeata. 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 schatzeata - Hodges#6310 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Macaria schatzeata - Hodges#6310
How big is Macaria schatzeata - Hodges#6310?
Ferguson listed the forewing length. ♂ 8.5-12 mm. ♀ 10-11 mm. Ferguson stated the adults were the largest March to April and the smallest June to September.
Where is Macaria schatzeata - Hodges#6310 found?
Range: Ferguson reported the species is limited to western Texas and southeastern New Mexico.
What does Macaria schatzeata - Hodges#6310 eat?
The diet of the Macaria schatzeata - Hodges#6310 includes Ferguson reported the early stages and host plants unknown..
When is Macaria schatzeata - Hodges#6310 active?
Macaria schatzeata - Hodges#6310: seasonal activity - Ferguson reported the months of March, May to October..