Neoterpes ephelidaria - Hodges#6859
Neoterpes ephelidaria
This record describes Neoterpes ephelidaria (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
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Neoterpes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
MPG records indicate all of California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae have been found and reared on southwestern pricklypoppy ( Argemone pleiacantha , Papaveraceae) and flatbud pricklypoppy ( Argemone munita ) (Comstock & Dammers; Goeden & Ricker; BugGuide records).
Life History
Pupate at soil surface in a loose silken cocoon.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Perhaps from Latin ephelid meaning freckled.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Neoterpes ephelidaria. 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 ephelidaria - Hodges#6859 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Neoterpes ephelidaria - Hodges#6859
What is Neoterpes ephelidaria - Hodges#6859?
Neoterpes ephelidaria - Hodges#6859 (Neoterpes ephelidaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Neoterpes ephelidaria - Hodges#6859?
Larva to 22 mm. Pupa 13 mm.
How do you identify Neoterpes ephelidaria - Hodges#6859?
Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Neoterpes ephelidaria - Hodges#6859 found?
Range: MPG records indicate all of California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.
What does Neoterpes ephelidaria - Hodges#6859 eat?
The diet of the Neoterpes ephelidaria - Hodges#6859 includes Larvae have been found and reared on southwestern pricklypoppy ( Argemone pleiacantha , Papaveraceae) and flatbud pricklypoppy ( Argemone munita ) (Comstock & Dammers; Goeden & Ricker; BugGuide records)..
What is the life cycle of a Neoterpes ephelidaria - Hodges#6859?
Pupate at soil surface in a loose silken cocoon.