Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035
Nemoria darwiniata
This record describes Nemoria darwiniata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forwing green with straight white PM line and fainter oblique AM line; veins faint, whitish; costa and fringe white; orange dot at apex; thorax green; abdomen light green or brown with white dorsal spots surrounded by reddish-brown ring hindwing similar but PM line with slight bend in middle; tiny reddish or orange discal spot on all wings (a distinctive feature) Ferguson notes that the discal spots can vary from red to green. Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Larva: color extremely variable (white, yellow, pale brown, light green, silver, or dark brown); abdominal segments 2-5 with pointed lateral flanges; integument granulate, almost velvety Sub-species:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Geometrinae
- Tribe
- Nemoriini
- Genus
- Nemoria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
mountain forests
Geographic Range
British Columbia to California, east to New Mexico, north to Alberta
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to August larvae from March to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves and flowers of various trees and shrubs: oak ( Quercus spp.), Myrica , Oceanspray ( Holodiscus discolor ), Black Hawthorn ( Crataegus douglasii ), manzanita ( Arctostaphylos spp.), Antelope Bitterbrush ( Purshia tridentata ), Snowbrush ( Ceanothus velutinus ), Smooth Sumac ( Rhus glabra ), Scouler's Willow ( Salix scouleriana )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nemoria darwiniata. 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 Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035
What is Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035?
Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035 (Nemoria darwiniata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035?
wingspan 27-34 mm
How do you identify Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035?
Adult: forwing green with straight white PM line and fainter oblique AM line; veins faint, whitish; costa and fringe white; orange dot at apex; thorax green; abdomen light green or brown with white dorsal spots surrounded by reddish-brown ring hindwing similar but PM line with slight bend in middle; tiny reddish or orange discal spot on all wings (a distinctive feature) Ferguson notes that the discal spots can vary from red to green. Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Larva: color extremely variable (white, yellow, pale brown, light green, silver, or dark brown); abdominal segments 2-5 with pointed lateral flanges; integument granulate, almost velvety
Where is Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | mountain forests |
| Range | British Columbia to California, east to New Mexico, north to Alberta |
What does Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035 eat?
The diet of the Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035 includes larvae feed on leaves and flowers of various trees and shrubs: oak ( Quercus spp.), Myrica , Oceanspray ( Holodiscus discolor ), Black Hawthorn ( Crataegus douglasii ), manzanita ( Arctostaphylos spp.), Antelope Bitterbrush ( Purshia tridentata ), Snowbrush ( Ceanothus velutinus ), Smooth Sumac ( Rhus glabra ), Scouler's Willow ( Salix scouleriana ).
When is Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035 active?
Columbian Emerald - Hodges#7035: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to August larvae from March to September.