Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321
Macaria truncataria
This record describes Macaria truncataria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The bold black and orange bands across the forewing and hindwing are unique. The original description as Fidonia truncataria Walker, is available online in the print references below. Dark form: Adults fly during the day and are not known to be active at night. Generally uncommon and local in the southern parts of its range; common and widespread across the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska. The genus Epelis was included in Macaria in 1999 by Parsons et al in Malcolm Scoble's catalog.
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
open coniferous woods and northern peat bogs
Geographic Range
a northern species ranging from Alaska to Newfoundland, south in the east to Connecticut, and south in the west to Colorado
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from April to August based on Moth Photographers Group records.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on Bearberry and Leather-leaf.
Life History
eggs laid in summer on underside of leaf of hostplant, hatching in one or two weeks; larvae feed for about 40 days before pupating for the winter
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Macaria truncataria (Walker, 1862), was formerly in the genus Epelis , new generic synonymy in Sihvonen & Skou .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macaria truncataria. 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 Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , ceiseman , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321
What is Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321?
Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321 (Macaria truncataria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321?
wingspan 12-20 mm.
How do you identify Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321?
The bold black and orange bands across the forewing and hindwing are unique. The original description as Fidonia truncataria Walker, is available online in the print references below. Dark form:
Where is Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | open coniferous woods and northern peat bogs |
| Range | a northern species ranging from Alaska to Newfoundland, south in the east to Connecticut, and south in the west to Colorado |
What does Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321 eat?
The diet of the Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321 includes larvae feed on Bearberry and Leather-leaf..
When is Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321 active?
Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from April to August based on Moth Photographers Group records..
What is the life cycle of a Black-banded Orange - Hodges#6321?
eggs laid in summer on underside of leaf of hostplant, hatching in one or two weeks; larvae feed for about 40 days before pupating for the winter