Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777
Parexcelsa ultraria
This record describes Parexcelsa ultraria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Pearsall original description is available in print references. Sperry included the first description of the female. ♂
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Nacophorini
- Genus
- Parexcelsa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California. , Holotype ♂ collected Oct 9, 1910, San Diego, California.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is August to November. ( 5 ) McFarland (1965) reported the species common at lights late September to November. ( 6 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval host is unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Parexcelsa ultraria. 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 Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777
What is Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777?
Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777 (Parexcelsa ultraria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777?
Pearsall listed the wingspan as 28-30 mm.
How do you identify Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777?
Pearsall original description is available in print references. Sperry included the first description of the female. ♂
Where is Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777 found?
Range: Southern California. , Holotype ♂ collected Oct 9, 1910, San Diego, California.
What does Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777 eat?
The diet of the Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777 includes The larval host is unknown..
When is Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777 active?
Parexcelsa ultraria - Hodges#6777: seasonal activity - The flight period is August to November. ( 5 ) McFarland (1965) reported the species common at lights late September to November. ( 6 ).