Barred Speranza - Hodges#6303
Macaria subcessaria
This record describes Macaria subcessaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing dirty grayish-white or pale brown; four dark bars are equally spaced along the costa, and extend at right angles onto the wing; the second bar is more than twice as long as any of the other bars (this is a distinguishing feature)
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
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on the leaves of currants and gooseberries
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria subcessaria. 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 Barred Speranza - Hodges#6303 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by anitagould , ceiseman , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Barred Speranza - Hodges#6303
What is Barred Speranza - Hodges#6303?
Barred Speranza - Hodges#6303 (Macaria subcessaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Barred Speranza - Hodges#6303?
wingspan about 25 mm
How do you identify Barred Speranza - Hodges#6303?
forewing dirty grayish-white or pale brown; four dark bars are equally spaced along the costa, and extend at right angles onto the wing; the second bar is more than twice as long as any of the other bars (this is a distinguishing feature)
What does Barred Speranza - Hodges#6303 eat?
The diet of the Barred Speranza - Hodges#6303 includes larvae feed on the leaves of currants and gooseberries.
When is Barred Speranza - Hodges#6303 active?
Barred Speranza - Hodges#6303: seasonal activity - adults fly in July.