Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856
Melemaea virgata
This record describes Melemaea virgata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva - see Powell and Opler plate 62.
Identification notes
Larva - see Powell and Opler plate 62.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Melemaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Described from southern Arizona (Huachuca Mountains).
Seasonal Activity
Two generations in southern Arizona: adults fly late-June to early-July and September to October. Early flight is nocturnal and the later flight diurnal.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Pine.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Melemaea virgata. 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 Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856
What is Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856?
Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856 (Melemaea virgata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856?
Forewing length 13-16 mm.
How do you identify Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856?
Larva - see Powell and Opler plate 62.
Where is Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856 found?
Range: Described from southern Arizona (Huachuca Mountains).
What does Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856 eat?
The diet of the Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856 includes Pine..
When is Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856 active?
Melemaea virgata - Hodges#6856: seasonal activity - Two generations in southern Arizona: adults fly late-June to early-July and September to October. Early flight is nocturnal and the later flight diurnal..