Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907
Nepytia phantasmaria
This record describes Nepytia phantasmaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing white with thick black or dark gray lines and one or more dark-scaled veins; AM and PM lines scalloped; discal spot dark, usually surrounded by dark lines; terminal line a series of dark spots; hindwing similar but discal spot not surrounded by dark lines, and veins not dark-scaled Larva: head green with ten prominent black spots; body yellowish-green dorsally with faint green middorsal stripe; subdorsal stripe white, edged on either side with fine dark green line; supraspiracular area green with pair of wavy broken dark lines; spiracular stripe yellow [adapted from description by Canadian Forest Service]
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 forests; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
southern British Columbia to California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in September and October larvae from May to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed mainly on foliage of Western Hemlock and Douglas-fir; other hosts include Grand Fir, Amabilis Fir, Sitka Spruce, Western Redcedar
Life History
one generation per year; overwinters as an egg; larvae feed from May to August; pupation occurs on foliage in August; adults emerge in September and October and lay up to 115 eggs singly or in small groups on undersides of needles [adapted from text at Canadian Forest Service]
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nepytia phantasmaria. 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 Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod
Frequently Asked Questions About Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907
What is Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907?
Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907 (Nepytia phantasmaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907?
wingspan about 33 mm, based on three Internet photos larva length to 28 mm
How do you identify Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907?
Adult: forewing white with thick black or dark gray lines and one or more dark-scaled veins; AM and PM lines scalloped; discal spot dark, usually surrounded by dark lines; terminal line a series of dark spots; hindwing similar but discal spot not surrounded by dark lines, and veins not dark-scaled Larva: head green with ten prominent black spots; body yellowish-green dorsally with faint green middorsal stripe; subdorsal stripe white, edged on either side with fine dark green line; supraspiracular area green with pair of wavy broken dark lines; spiracular stripe yellow [adapted from description by Canadian Forest Service]
Where is Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | coniferous forests; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | southern British Columbia to California |
What does Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907 eat?
The diet of the Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907 includes larvae feed mainly on foliage of Western Hemlock and Douglas-fir; other hosts include Grand Fir, Amabilis Fir, Sitka Spruce, Western Redcedar.
When is Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907 active?
Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907: seasonal activity - adults fly in September and October larvae from May to August.
What is the life cycle of a Phantom Hemlock Looper - Hodges#6907?
one generation per year; overwinters as an egg; larvae feed from May to August; pupation occurs on foliage in August; adults emerge in September and October and lay up to 115 eggs singly or in small groups on undersides of needles [adapted from text at Canadian Forest Service]