Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861
Neoterpes edwardsata
This record describes Neoterpes edwardsata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva - vary from light green with faint longitudinal lines to yellow tan with light brown, light tan, and grey brown stripes and bands. Spiracles are black with narrow yellow lines, and legs are almost white basally. Last instars extremely variable and similar to N. ephelidaria Pupa - pupation is on the ground or slightly underground in silk webbing that has debris and soil particles intermixed. Pupa is covered with a whitish powdery bloom.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Neoterpes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to Colorado and Arizona. ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly February though December.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host in native habitats is California poppy ( Eschscholzia californica ) and in suburban yards often tree poppy ( Dendromecon rigida ) and Coulter's Matilija poppy ( Romneya coulteri ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Henry Edwards .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Neoterpes edwardsata. 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 Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hartmut Wisch; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861
What is Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861?
Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861 (Neoterpes edwardsata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861?
Forewing length 17-20 mm. Larva to 28-30 mm. Pupa 13-16 mm.
How do you identify Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861?
Larva - vary from light green with faint longitudinal lines to yellow tan with light brown, light tan, and grey brown stripes and bands. Spiracles are black with narrow yellow lines, and legs are almost white basally. Last instars extremely variable and similar to N. ephelidaria Pupa - pupation is on the ground or slightly underground in silk webbing that has debris and soil particles intermixed. Pupa is covered with a whitish powdery bloom.
Where is Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861 found?
Range: California to Colorado and Arizona. ,
What does Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861 eat?
The diet of the Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861 includes Larval host in native habitats is California poppy ( Eschscholzia californica ) and in suburban yards often tree poppy ( Dendromecon rigida ) and Coulter's Matilija poppy ( Romneya coulteri )..
When is Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861 active?
Neoterpes edwardsata - Hodges#6861: seasonal activity - Adults fly February though December..