Fernadella stalachtaria - Hodges#6421
Narraga stalachtaria
This record describes Narraga stalachtaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinction from F. fimetaria is difficult as underside patterns in both vary, and upper sides are rarely photographed; genitalia are apparently similar. Images posted on internet web sites (when just underside is shown) may sometimes be misidentified (generally, if shown, the underside disc of the front wing of F. fimetaria should be a darker more even brown, and that of F. stalachtaria lighter, more yellowish, with darker cross-bands). Upperside of F. stalachtaria is yellowish with indications of narrow dark cross bands. In F. fimetaria the upperside is more evenly brownish with yellowish markings near front edge of front wing. It is conceivable that the two names represent color variations within a single species (?). F. fimetaria is more wide-ranging across western North America from the Plains to near the west coast and from s. Canada to Mexico.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Macariini
- Genus
- Narraga
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Rocky Mountain region, Western North America (reported in literature from New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Oregon).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Narraga stalachtaria. 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 Fernadella stalachtaria - Hodges#6421 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Fernadella stalachtaria - Hodges#6421
What is Fernadella stalachtaria - Hodges#6421?
Fernadella stalachtaria - Hodges#6421 (Narraga stalachtaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Fernadella stalachtaria - Hodges#6421?
Distinction from F. fimetaria is difficult as underside patterns in both vary, and upper sides are rarely photographed; genitalia are apparently similar. Images posted on internet web sites (when just underside is shown) may sometimes be misidentified (generally, if shown, the underside disc of the front wing of F. fimetaria should be a darker more even brown, and that of F. stalachtaria lighter, more yellowish, with darker cross-bands). Upperside of F. stalachtaria is yellowish with indications of narrow dark cross bands. In F. fimetaria the upperside is more evenly brownish with yellowish markings near front edge of front wing. It is conceivable that the two names represent color variations within a single species (?). F. fimetaria is more wide-ranging across western North America from the Plains to near the west coast and from s. Canada to Mexico.
Where is Fernadella stalachtaria - Hodges#6421 found?
Range: Rocky Mountain region, Western North America (reported in literature from New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Oregon).