Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016
Nemoria pulcherrima
This record describes Nemoria pulcherrima (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Swett published his description of Chlorosea naidaria only 18 days after Barnes & McDunnough published pulcherrima !
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
Geographic Range
From Oregon to San Diego west of the Sierra Nevada-Cascade crest.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in late winter generally from mid-January to mid-March, but sometimes as early December and as late as May.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on oak catkins (Comstock & Dammers, 1937).
Life History
See Comstock & Dammers, 1937.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from the Latin pulcher meaning "beauty". There are two others that share the name, the geometrid Caripeta pulcherrima (Guedet, 1941) and the tortricid Sparganothis pulcherrimana (Walsingham, 1879).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nemoria pulcherrima. 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 Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ken Wolgemuth; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016
What is Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016?
Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016 (Nemoria pulcherrima) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016?
Forewing length 12-16 mm. Larva to 18 mm (Comstock & Dammers, 1937). Pupa 13 mm (Comstock & Dammers, 1937).
Where is Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016 found?
Range: From Oregon to San Diego west of the Sierra Nevada-Cascade crest.
What does Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016 eat?
The diet of the Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016 includes Larvae feed on oak catkins (Comstock & Dammers, 1937)..
When is Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016 active?
Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016: seasonal activity - Adults fly in late winter generally from mid-January to mid-March, but sometimes as early December and as late as May..
What is the life cycle of a Nemoria pulcherrima - Hodges#7016?
See Comstock & Dammers, 1937.