Mericisca perpictaria - Hodges#6606
Mericisca perpictaria
This record describes Mericisca perpictaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Boarmiini
- Genus
- Mericisca
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona. Rindge designated the lectotype ♂, collected in Paradise, Cochise County, Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
Rindge listed the flight time as June to September, but did acknowledge one early April record.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Rindge did not mention a host plant.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mericisca perpictaria. 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 Mericisca perpictaria - Hodges#6606 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Mericisca perpictaria - Hodges#6606
How big is Mericisca perpictaria - Hodges#6606?
Rindge reported the forewing length. ♂ 13-17 mm. ♀ 17-19 mm.
Where is Mericisca perpictaria - Hodges#6606 found?
Range: Arizona. Rindge designated the lectotype ♂, collected in Paradise, Cochise County, Arizona.
What does Mericisca perpictaria - Hodges#6606 eat?
The diet of the Mericisca perpictaria - Hodges#6606 includes Rindge did not mention a host plant..
When is Mericisca perpictaria - Hodges#6606 active?
Mericisca perpictaria - Hodges#6606: seasonal activity - Rindge listed the flight time as June to September, but did acknowledge one early April record..