Nomenia obsoleta - Hodges#7427
Nomenia obsoleta
This record describes Nomenia obsoleta (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See Swett (1916) and illustration of type specimen in Rep. Prov. Mus. Nat. Hist. 1916. -- This species has historically been confused in collections and at BOLD with Venusia pearsalli and/or a cryptic species near pearsalli . However, the evidence appears to support an affinity with N. duodecemlineata and it may turn out that the two refer to the same species. BOLD BIN BOLD:AAB5482 with specimens identified as Venusia obsoleta do not match the original description or illustration of type specimen, and DNA barcode places them in Venusia near pearsalli and comptaria . Examination of male antennae is needed to distinguish species in Nomenia and Venusia ; unipectinate in N. duodecemlineata and N. obsoleta , filiform in V. pearsalli (western) and V. comptaria (mostly eastern), bipectinate in V. cambrica . Wing pattern is mostly inconclusive in western NA. (Steve Nanz, pers. comm., 2023)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Asthenini
- Genus
- Nomenia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
western (BC south to CA) Range likely includes records for a cryptic species near comptaria . Holotype: Goldstream, BC.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Nomenia duodecemlineata (Packard, 1873) was formerly in the genus Venusia which included as a a synonym Nomenia , a genus recognized as valid in Xue & Scoble (2002).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nomenia obsoleta. 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 Nomenia obsoleta - Hodges#7427 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz | Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Nomenia obsoleta - Hodges#7427
What is Nomenia obsoleta - Hodges#7427?
Nomenia obsoleta - Hodges#7427 (Nomenia obsoleta) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Nomenia obsoleta - Hodges#7427?
wingspan ≈ 20 mm
How do you identify Nomenia obsoleta - Hodges#7427?
See Swett (1916) and illustration of type specimen in Rep. Prov. Mus. Nat. Hist. 1916. -- This species has historically been confused in collections and at BOLD with Venusia pearsalli and/or a cryptic species near pearsalli . However, the evidence appears to support an affinity with N. duodecemlineata and it may turn out that the two refer to the same species. BOLD BIN BOLD:AAB5482 with specimens identified as Venusia obsoleta do not match the original description or illustration of type specimen, and DNA barcode places them in Venusia near pearsalli and comptaria . Examination of male antennae is needed to distinguish species in Nomenia and Venusia ; unipectinate in N. duodecemlineata and N. obsoleta , filiform in V. pearsalli (western) and V. comptaria (mostly eastern), bipectinate in V. cambrica . Wing pattern is mostly inconclusive in western NA. (Steve Nanz, pers. comm., 2023)
Where is Nomenia obsoleta - Hodges#7427 found?
Range: western (BC south to CA) Range likely includes records for a cryptic species near comptaria . Holotype: Goldstream, BC.