Western Carpet - Hodges#6618
Melanolophia imitata
This record describes Melanolophia imitata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light to medium brown with dark brown speckling; PM line scalloped, prominent; median and AM lines usually fainter; ST line composed of several black spots; discal spot small, round, black hindwing similar but slightly paler and with slightly scalloped outer margin; markings faded/absent along costal margin Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Larva: head unmarked green; body green with broad whitish-green dorsolateral stripes and narrow white subspiracular stripe; spiracles marked by prominent yellow spots
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Melanolophiini
- Genus
- Melanolophia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
montane coniferous forests
Geographic Range
west coast from Alaska to California, east to Idaho and Alberta
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from March to June larvae from spring to mid-summer
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on a variety of coniferous trees: principal hosts are Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock; others include Western Red Cedar, Grand Fir, Amabilis Fir, Subalpine Fir, Sitka Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, White Spruce, Western Larch, Mountain Hemlock, Western White Pine
Life History
one generation per year; overwinters as a pupa in leaf litter; up to 80 eggs are laid singly in the spring on branches and trunks of host trees; larvae emerge in about nine days, and initially feed on the underside of needles; later instars feed openly, preferring foliage of the previous year; most feeding damage occurs in the crown of the tree; larvae complete feeding by early August, drop to the ground, and burrow into the litter and pupate
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Melanolophia imitata. 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 Western Carpet - Hodges#6618 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Western Carpet - Hodges#6618
What is Western Carpet - Hodges#6618?
Western Carpet - Hodges#6618 (Melanolophia imitata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Western Carpet - Hodges#6618?
wingspan 34-40 mm larvae to 37 mm
How do you identify Western Carpet - Hodges#6618?
Adult: forewing light to medium brown with dark brown speckling; PM line scalloped, prominent; median and AM lines usually fainter; ST line composed of several black spots; discal spot small, round, black hindwing similar but slightly paler and with slightly scalloped outer margin; markings faded/absent along costal margin Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Larva: head unmarked green; body green with broad whitish-green dorsolateral stripes and narrow white subspiracular stripe; spiracles marked by prominent yellow spots
Where is Western Carpet - Hodges#6618 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | montane coniferous forests |
| Range | west coast from Alaska to California, east to Idaho and Alberta |
What does Western Carpet - Hodges#6618 eat?
The diet of the Western Carpet - Hodges#6618 includes larvae feed on a variety of coniferous trees: principal hosts are Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock; others include Western Red Cedar, Grand Fir, Amabilis Fir, Subalpine Fir, Sitka Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, White Spruce, Western Larch, Mountain Hemlock, Western White Pine.
When is Western Carpet - Hodges#6618 active?
Western Carpet - Hodges#6618: seasonal activity - adults fly from March to June larvae from spring to mid-summer.
What is the life cycle of a Western Carpet - Hodges#6618?
one generation per year; overwinters as a pupa in leaf litter; up to 80 eggs are laid singly in the spring on branches and trunks of host trees; larvae emerge in about nine days, and initially feed on the underside of needles; later instars feed openly, preferring foliage of the previous year; most feeding damage occurs in the crown of the tree; larvae complete feeding by early August, drop to the ground, and burrow into the litter and pupate