Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821
Metarranthis warneri
This record describes Metarranthis warneri (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing brownish-gray with dark AM and PM lines and scattered dark speckling; PM line almost straight, bordered proximally by dark brown shading; prominent black apical dash; hindwing similar but with no AM line and fainter PM line; all wings have black discal dot and slightly angular outer margin uncommon to rare
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Anagogini
- Genus
- Metarranthis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
deciduous and mixedwood forest; adults may be active during the day but are also nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
New Brunswick to Alberta, and presumably adjacent US states but the only Internet references found were from New York and Indiana. The BOLD species page has moths from: ME, NH, WI, NB
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in May, June, and probably July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of cherry, dogwood, willow
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Metarranthis warneri. 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 Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , anitagould
Frequently Asked Questions About Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821
What is Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821?
Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821 (Metarranthis warneri) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821?
wingspan 32-35 mm, based on 3 Internet photos
How do you identify Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821?
Adult: forewing brownish-gray with dark AM and PM lines and scattered dark speckling; PM line almost straight, bordered proximally by dark brown shading; prominent black apical dash; hindwing similar but with no AM line and fainter PM line; all wings have black discal dot and slightly angular outer margin
Where is Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | deciduous and mixedwood forest; adults may be active during the day but are also nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | New Brunswick to Alberta, and presumably adjacent US states but the only Internet references found were from New York and Indiana. The BOLD species page has moths from: ME, NH, WI, NB |
What does Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821 eat?
The diet of the Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821 includes larvae feed on leaves of cherry, dogwood, willow.
When is Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821 active?
Warner's Metarranthis - Hodges#6821: seasonal activity - adults fly in May, June, and probably July.