False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906
Nepytia canosaria
This record describes Nepytia canosaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: top of head small yellowish spot; forewing ground color usually whitish but sometimes dark grayish-brown; wings speckled with gray or brown; forewing AM and PM lines black, scalloped, and with pointed teeth in PM line; discal spot large, black; in dark individuals, PM line bordered by conspicuous white line hindwing paler with less prominent markings; fringe of both wings checkered black and white Larva: body boldly striped with green and pale yellow; head green with black dots. ]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Nepytia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Coniferous and mixed woods; adults fly during day and night, and may be attracted to light.
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to North Carolina, west to Oregon, north to Alberta.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly from late July to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed on leaves of a variety of coniferous trees.
Life History
[Overwinters as a pupa in a flimsy cocoon among foliage of host plant]?? see: comment here Overwinters as an egg. Larva; pupa, adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nepytia canosaria. 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 False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Mike Boone , Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , JoAnneRusso , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906
What is False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906?
False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906 (Nepytia canosaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906?
Wingspan 25-32 mm.
How do you identify False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906?
Adult: top of head small yellowish spot; forewing ground color usually whitish but sometimes dark grayish-brown; wings speckled with gray or brown; forewing AM and PM lines black, scalloped, and with pointed teeth in PM line; discal spot large, black; in dark individuals, PM line bordered by conspicuous white line hindwing paler with less prominent markings; fringe of both wings checkered black and white Larva: body boldly striped with green and pale yellow; head green with black dots. ]
Where is False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Coniferous and mixed woods; adults fly during day and night, and may be attracted to light. |
| Range | Newfoundland to North Carolina, west to Oregon, north to Alberta. |
What does False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906 eat?
The diet of the False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906 includes The larvae feed on leaves of a variety of coniferous trees..
When is False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906 active?
False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906: seasonal activity - The adults fly from late July to October..
What is the life cycle of a False Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6906?
[Overwinters as a pupa in a flimsy cocoon among foliage of host plant]?? see: comment here Overwinters as an egg. Larva; pupa, adult