Boreal Pine Looper - Hodges#6909
Nepytia pellucidaria
This record describes Nepytia pellucidaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Genitalia: Perhaps not as rare in at least Atlantic Canada as previously thought:
Identification notes
Genitalia:
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
pine forests and barrens on sandy soils . Also, suburban garden in Fredericton, NB
Geographic Range
rare, local, and spotty records from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Quebec, Ontario, Wisconsin
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval hosts are red pine Pinus resinosa , pitch pine Pinus rigida , jack pine Pinus banksiana , and possibly white pine Pinus strobus
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: pellucid is Latin for transparent
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nepytia pellucidaria. 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 Boreal Pine Looper - Hodges#6909 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ken Schneider; Additional contributions by Bob Patterson , Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Boreal Pine Looper - Hodges#6909
What is Boreal Pine Looper - Hodges#6909?
Boreal Pine Looper - Hodges#6909 (Nepytia pellucidaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Boreal Pine Looper - Hodges#6909?
wingspan 35 - 45mm
How do you identify Boreal Pine Looper - Hodges#6909?
Genitalia:
Where is Boreal Pine Looper - Hodges#6909 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | pine forests and barrens on sandy soils . Also, suburban garden in Fredericton, NB |
| Range | rare, local, and spotty records from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Quebec, Ontario, Wisconsin |
What does Boreal Pine Looper - Hodges#6909 eat?
The diet of the Boreal Pine Looper - Hodges#6909 includes larval hosts are red pine Pinus resinosa , pitch pine Pinus rigida , jack pine Pinus banksiana , and possibly white pine Pinus strobus.