Day Emerald - Hodges#7085
Mesothea incertata
This record describes Mesothea incertata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: wings uniformly yellowish-green to dusky green; PM line slightly wavy, indistinct (sometimes absent), often the only visible marking. The area between the antennae base is green compared to white in Hethemia pistasciaria . Larva: green with brown dorsal stripe; body slender and without noticeable bumps or protrusions; head and first thoracic segment with pair of pointed horns. Day flying moth that is usually not attracted to lights.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Geometrinae
- Tribe
- Hemitheini
- Genus
- Mesothea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Dry open mixedwood and pine forest, peat bogs, grasslands. ( 5 )
Geographic Range
Alaska to Newfoundland, south to North Carolina, west to California . Type locality: USA: Washington, Seattle. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly during the day in April and August. ( 6 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed mainly on leaves of willow and Sweet Gale ( Myrica gale ), but also on alder, birch, Buffaloberry ( Sherpherdia canadensis ), gooseberry, New Jersey Tea ( Ceanothus americanus ), pine, and members of the rose family (Rosaceae) associated with Labrador Tea ( Ledum groenlandicum ) and Bearberry ( Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ) in Alberta. ( 5 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mesothea incertata. 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 Day Emerald - Hodges#7085 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Day Emerald - Hodges#7085
What is Day Emerald - Hodges#7085?
Day Emerald - Hodges#7085 (Mesothea incertata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Day Emerald - Hodges#7085?
Forewing length 9-11 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Day Emerald - Hodges#7085?
Adult: wings uniformly yellowish-green to dusky green; PM line slightly wavy, indistinct (sometimes absent), often the only visible marking. The area between the antennae base is green compared to white in Hethemia pistasciaria . Larva: green with brown dorsal stripe; body slender and without noticeable bumps or protrusions; head and first thoracic segment with pair of pointed horns.
Where is Day Emerald - Hodges#7085 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dry open mixedwood and pine forest, peat bogs, grasslands. ( 5 ) |
| Range | Alaska to Newfoundland, south to North Carolina, west to California . Type locality: USA: Washington, Seattle. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. |
What does Day Emerald - Hodges#7085 eat?
The diet of the Day Emerald - Hodges#7085 includes Larvae feed mainly on leaves of willow and Sweet Gale ( Myrica gale ), but also on alder, birch, Buffaloberry ( Sherpherdia canadensis ), gooseberry, New Jersey Tea ( Ceanothus americanus ), pine, and members of the rose family (Rosaceae) associated with Labrador Tea ( Ledum groenlandicum ) and Bearberry ( Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ) in Alberta. ( 5 ).
When is Day Emerald - Hodges#7085 active?
Day Emerald - Hodges#7085: seasonal activity - Adults fly during the day in April and August. ( 6 ).