Phaeoura cristifera - Hodges#6764
Phaeoura cristifera
This record describes Phaeoura cristifera (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Nacophorini
- Genus
- Phaeoura
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western Texas west to Arizona, north to Idaho and Colorado.
Seasonal Activity
Adults have two flights from April to August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on willow ( Salix ) and oak ( Quercus ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Phaeoura cristifera. 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 Phaeoura cristifera - Hodges#6764 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Phaeoura cristifera - Hodges#6764
How big is Phaeoura cristifera - Hodges#6764?
Forewing length 17-29 mm.
Where is Phaeoura cristifera - Hodges#6764 found?
Range: Western Texas west to Arizona, north to Idaho and Colorado.
What does Phaeoura cristifera - Hodges#6764 eat?
The diet of the Phaeoura cristifera - Hodges#6764 includes Larvae feed on willow ( Salix ) and oak ( Quercus )..
When is Phaeoura cristifera - Hodges#6764 active?
Phaeoura cristifera - Hodges#6764: seasonal activity - Adults have two flights from April to August..