Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435
Neoalcis californiaria
This record describes Neoalcis californiaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Identification notes
Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Boarmiini
- Genus
- Neoalcis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California to coastal British Columbia. Bug Guide - range map with monthly record of photos submitted to the guide. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly March through October. Moth Photographers Group has California records from March through December. MPG
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed mainly on Douglas-Fir; other hosts include Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Grand Fir, Lodgepole Pine (Canadian Forest Service). Larvae also feed on many broadleaf trees and shrubs (USGS)
Life History
Larvae:
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Neoalcis californiaria. 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 Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by anitagould , Chuck Entz , Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435
What is Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435?
Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435 (Neoalcis californiaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435?
Forewing length 15-18 mm.
How do you identify Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435?
Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435 found?
Range: Southern California to coastal British Columbia. Bug Guide - range map with monthly record of photos submitted to the guide. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
What does Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435 eat?
The diet of the Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435 includes Larvae feed mainly on Douglas-Fir; other hosts include Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Grand Fir, Lodgepole Pine (Canadian Forest Service). Larvae also feed on many broadleaf trees and shrubs (USGS).
When is Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435 active?
Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435: seasonal activity - Adults fly March through October. Moth Photographers Group has California records from March through December. MPG.
What is the life cycle of a Brownlined Looper - Hodges#6435?
Larvae: