Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344
Macaria signaria
This record describes Macaria signaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: head pale with thin dark collar; forewing pale brownish-gray with large dark blotch (composed of 4 separate pieces in well-marked individuals) near middle of PM line; AM, median, and PM lines scalloped or wavy, dark, and usually distinct, especially at costa; darkly-marked specimens have broad whitish arc (sometimes faint) in subterminal area that touches anal angle at one end, and touches outer margin near apex at other end; small pale patch usually present along outer margin halfway between ends of whitish arc; hindwing has similar ground color but has few (and faint) markings other than a tiny dark discal dot; shallow point midway along outer margin. Larva: head yellowish-green with darker herringbone pattern; body light to medium green with gray and white lines along back and sides Records of M. signaria from Yukon - PDF doc (1997) are presumably misidentified, as signaria is not included in the latest (2003) list of Yukon Geometridae (it is also absent from Northwest Territories ). This species is missing from geometrid lists from North Carolina , South Carolina , Florida , Texas ( 1 , 2 ), Arizona , and Utah
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
Coniferous and mixed-wood forests and bogs; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Across southern Canada (Newfoundland to British Columbia) and northern United States, south in the west to central California and Colorado. Holarctic: also occurs throughout northern Eurasia.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May to August Mature larvae present from July to November
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of many species of coniferous trees (fir, hemlock, larch, pine, spruce, and Douglas-fir)
Life History
Usually one generation per year, sometimes two; overwinters as a pupa in soil or debris
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria signaria. 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 Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Tony-2 , anitagould , Maury Heiman , Aaron Schusteff , Nick Block , marcie oconnor , Blocky , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344
What is Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344?
Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344 (Macaria signaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344?
Wingspan 20-30 mm Larva length to about 25 mm
How do you identify Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344?
Adult: head pale with thin dark collar; forewing pale brownish-gray with large dark blotch (composed of 4 separate pieces in well-marked individuals) near middle of PM line; AM, median, and PM lines scalloped or wavy, dark, and usually distinct, especially at costa; darkly-marked specimens have broad whitish arc (sometimes faint) in subterminal area that touches anal angle at one end, and touches outer margin near apex at other end; small pale patch usually present along outer margin halfway between ends of whitish arc; hindwing has similar ground color but has few (and faint) markings other than a tiny dark discal dot; shallow point midway along outer margin. Larva: head yellowish-green with darker herringbone pattern; body light to medium green with gray and white lines along back and sides
Where is Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Coniferous and mixed-wood forests and bogs; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Across southern Canada (Newfoundland to British Columbia) and northern United States, south in the west to central California and Colorado. Holarctic: also occurs throughout northern Eurasia. |
What does Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344 eat?
The diet of the Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344 includes Larvae feed on leaves of many species of coniferous trees (fir, hemlock, larch, pine, spruce, and Douglas-fir).
When is Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344 active?
Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May to August Mature larvae present from July to November.
What is the life cycle of a Pale-marked Angle - Hodges#6344?
Usually one generation per year, sometimes two; overwinters as a pupa in soil or debris