Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877
Meris paradoxa
This record describes Meris paradoxa (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - thinly scaled, slightly transparent, pale buff with scattered brown and grayish scaling; maculation weakly represented, cross lines grayish brown, tending to be broad, incomplete. Larva - brightly colored and boldy patterned, black and yellow on a white background.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Meris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Arizona: described from the Santa Rita Mountains, BugGuide records from the Huachuca Mountains. Type Location: Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mtns, AZ.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly April and August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Native host plant is snapdragon vine, also know as roving sailor ( Maurandya antirrhiniflora ) (Boros, Stermitz, McFarland, 1991). Will take common snapdragon ( Antirrhinum majus ) in captivity ( McFarland ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: From Latin paradoxus , strange or contrary to expectation.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Meris paradoxa. 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 Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877
What is Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877?
Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877 (Meris paradoxa) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877?
Forewing length 18-19 mm. Larva to 45 mm. Pupa 15 mm.
How do you identify Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877?
Adult - thinly scaled, slightly transparent, pale buff with scattered brown and grayish scaling; maculation weakly represented, cross lines grayish brown, tending to be broad, incomplete. Larva - brightly colored and boldy patterned, black and yellow on a white background.
Where is Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877 found?
Range: Southern Arizona: described from the Santa Rita Mountains, BugGuide records from the Huachuca Mountains. Type Location: Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mtns, AZ.
What does Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877 eat?
The diet of the Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877 includes Native host plant is snapdragon vine, also know as roving sailor ( Maurandya antirrhiniflora ) (Boros, Stermitz, McFarland, 1991). Will take common snapdragon ( Antirrhinum majus ) in captivity ( McFarland )..
When is Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877 active?
Meris paradoxa - Hodges#6877: seasonal activity - Adults fly April and August..