Macrurocampa dorothea - Hodges#7976
Macrurocampa dorothea
This record describes Macrurocampa dorothea (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva - blue-green with red-brown and yellow mid-dorsal stripe. Abundant in the mountains of southeastern Arizona during July and August but appearing as early as May.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Heterocampinae
- Genus
- Macrurocampa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Utah and Colorado south through Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas. Type locality: Las Vegas, San Miguel County, New Mexico.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are oaks and Arizona madrone ( Arbutus arizonica ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet dorothea likely in honor of the Dyar's newborn daughter, Dorothy (1896-1965).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macrurocampa dorothea. 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 Macrurocampa dorothea - Hodges#7976 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Macrurocampa dorothea - Hodges#7976
What is Macrurocampa dorothea - Hodges#7976?
Macrurocampa dorothea - Hodges#7976 (Macrurocampa dorothea) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Macrurocampa dorothea - Hodges#7976?
Forewing length 18-24 mm.
How do you identify Macrurocampa dorothea - Hodges#7976?
Larva - blue-green with red-brown and yellow mid-dorsal stripe.
Where is Macrurocampa dorothea - Hodges#7976 found?
Range: Utah and Colorado south through Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas. Type locality: Las Vegas, San Miguel County, New Mexico.
What does Macrurocampa dorothea - Hodges#7976 eat?
The diet of the Macrurocampa dorothea - Hodges#7976 includes Larval hosts are oaks and Arizona madrone ( Arbutus arizonica )..