Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325
Perizoma costiguttata
This record describes Perizoma costiguttata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing pale gray, speckled, and with darker shading beyond subterminal line; basal, AM, median, and PM lines double, dark, fine; 3 large black patches along costa represent upper end of basal, median, and PM lines; subterminal line pale, zigzag; small dark discal dot (sometimes absent) just outside median line; hindwing paler, with fewer markings but more prominent discal spot (if present); terminal line a series of paired dots on all wings
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Hydriomenini
- Genus
- Perizoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to British Columbia, east to Arizona, Utah, and probably Colorado
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to September in California
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of Oceanspray ( Holodiscus discolor )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: costiguttata : from "costa" (a rib) + "guttate" (spotted, as with drops); refers to the large dark spots along the forewing costa (the anterior marginal "rib" of an insect's wing)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Perizoma costiguttata. 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 Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325
What is Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325?
Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325 (Perizoma costiguttata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325?
wingspan about 22-27 mm, based on five Internet photos
How do you identify Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325?
Adult: forewing pale gray, speckled, and with darker shading beyond subterminal line; basal, AM, median, and PM lines double, dark, fine; 3 large black patches along costa represent upper end of basal, median, and PM lines; subterminal line pale, zigzag; small dark discal dot (sometimes absent) just outside median line; hindwing paler, with fewer markings but more prominent discal spot (if present); terminal line a series of paired dots on all wings
Where is Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325 found?
Range: California to British Columbia, east to Arizona, Utah, and probably Colorado
What does Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325 eat?
The diet of the Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325 includes larvae feed on leaves of Oceanspray ( Holodiscus discolor ).
When is Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325 active?
Perizoma costiguttata - Hodges#7325: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to September in California.