Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435
Malacodea pulchraria
This record describes Malacodea pulchraria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light brown with white-edged dark brown lines; subterminal line with three prominent pointed teeth near costa and short horizontal dash at costa; a total of five distinct lines cross the wing (as opposed to eight lines in Operophtera bruceata ); no noticeable terminal line; fringe checkered with dark and pale patches of about equal width; hindwing brownish-gray with small discal spot and checkered fringe Larva: head green, unmarked, with top of head moderately cleft; body light green with faint dark green middorsal stripe and white dorsolateral stripe
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Operophterini
- Genus
- Malacodea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
coniferous forests on the west coast
Geographic Range
British Columbia to northern California; common to uncommon along the coast; rare inland
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from March to June larvae present from June to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed primarily on leaves of Western Hemlock and Sitka Spruce; other hosts include Amabilis Fir, Subalpine Fir, Engelmann Spruce, White Spruce, Douglas-fir, Mountain Hemlock, Western Larch
Life History
one generation per year; overwinters as a pupa
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Malacodea pulchraria (Taylor, 1907) was formerly in the genus Epirrita, Zootaxa, 4258: 145–156.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Malacodea pulchraria. 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 Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435
What is Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435?
Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435 (Malacodea pulchraria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435?
wingspan about 30 mm, based on CBIF photo larva length to 21 mm
How do you identify Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435?
Adult: forewing light brown with white-edged dark brown lines; subterminal line with three prominent pointed teeth near costa and short horizontal dash at costa; a total of five distinct lines cross the wing (as opposed to eight lines in Operophtera bruceata ); no noticeable terminal line; fringe checkered with dark and pale patches of about equal width; hindwing brownish-gray with small discal spot and checkered fringe Larva: head green, unmarked, with top of head moderately cleft; body light green with faint dark green middorsal stripe and white dorsolateral stripe
Where is Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | coniferous forests on the west coast |
| Range | British Columbia to northern California; common to uncommon along the coast; rare inland |
What does Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435 eat?
The diet of the Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435 includes larvae feed primarily on leaves of Western Hemlock and Sitka Spruce; other hosts include Amabilis Fir, Subalpine Fir, Engelmann Spruce, White Spruce, Douglas-fir, Mountain Hemlock, Western Larch.
When is Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435 active?
Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435: seasonal activity - adults fly from March to June larvae present from June to August.
What is the life cycle of a Whitelined Looper - Hodges#7435?
one generation per year; overwinters as a pupa