White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663
Paleacrita merriccata
This record describes Paleacrita merriccata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Within this species the forewings vary from having obsolescent to prominent cross lines, and with some specimens possessing a broad dark band distad of the t. p. line. Examples from the south tend to be larger, darker, and to have more suffused maculation than do males from the northern portion of the range.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Bistonini
- Genus
- Paleacrita
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
eastern North America, central Illinois, eastern Missouri, west central Mississippi, Louisiana, and eastern Texas
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in the north March, April, and May; south January and February
Diet and Behavior
Diet: found on Parsley Hawthorn - Crataegus marshallii
Life History
Larva; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Paleacrita merriccata. 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 White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663
What is White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663?
White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663 (Paleacrita merriccata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663?
male forewing length 14 - 18 mm, females wingless
Where is White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663 found?
Range: eastern North America, central Illinois, eastern Missouri, west central Mississippi, Louisiana, and eastern Texas
What does White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663 eat?
The diet of the White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663 includes found on Parsley Hawthorn - Crataegus marshallii.
When is White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663 active?
White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663: seasonal activity - adults fly in the north March, April, and May; south January and February.
What is the life cycle of a White-spotted Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6663?
Larva; adult