Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820
Metanema determinata
This record describes Metanema determinata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to pale metanema, but darker gray. Black discal spots are smaller or none.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Anagogini
- Genus
- Metanema
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to New Jersey and Kentucky, west across Canada and south to Missouri.
Seasonal Activity
May-August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Ash, aspen, and willows
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Metanema determinata. 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 Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Jay Greenberg , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820
What is Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820?
Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820 (Metanema determinata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820?
2.4-3 cm wingspan
How do you identify Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820?
Similar to pale metanema, but darker gray. Black discal spots are smaller or none.
Where is Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820 found?
Range: Newfoundland to New Jersey and Kentucky, west across Canada and south to Missouri.
What does Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820 eat?
The diet of the Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820 includes Ash, aspen, and willows.
When is Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820 active?
Dark Metanema - Hodges#6820: seasonal activity - May-August.