Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763
Phaeoura quernaria
This record describes Phaeoura quernaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: wings powdery light to dark olive brown, with variable white patch at forewing apex, and white edging along black AM and PM lines, at least to costa; female with much broader white areas; blackish melanics common. [adapted from Covell ] Larva: body thickened and robust (short and stout for a geometrid) mottled with browns and grays; head flat, sloping inward; vertex cleft; each spot on head made of 10 to 20 speckles; thorax swollen and humped, darkened above; dorsal paired raised warts on second and eighth abdominal segments, and ventral warts on third; subventral fringe of thickened setae between abdominal and anal prolegs. [adapted Wagner and Giles]
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
Habitat
Deciduous forests.
Geographic Range
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Most records of adults are February to October in the south; shortened season in the north. Larvae present from June to October; earlier in the south.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of a variety of deciduous trees: basswood, birch, cherry, elm, hawthorn, oak, poplar, willow.
Life History
Two broods in south, one in north; overwinters as a pupa.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Phaeoura quernaria. 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 Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763
What is Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763?
Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763 (Phaeoura quernaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763?
Wingspan 37-56 mm; female larger.
How do you identify Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763?
Adult: wings powdery light to dark olive brown, with variable white patch at forewing apex, and white edging along black AM and PM lines, at least to costa; female with much broader white areas; blackish melanics common. [adapted from Covell ] Larva: body thickened and robust (short and stout for a geometrid) mottled with browns and grays; head flat, sloping inward; vertex cleft; each spot on head made of 10 to 20 speckles; thorax swollen and humped, darkened above; dorsal paired raised warts on second and eighth abdominal segments, and ventral warts on third; subventral fringe of thickened setae between abdominal and anal prolegs. [adapted Wagner and Giles]
Where is Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Deciduous forests. |
| Range | Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. |
What does Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763 eat?
The diet of the Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763 includes Larvae feed on leaves of a variety of deciduous trees: basswood, birch, cherry, elm, hawthorn, oak, poplar, willow..
When is Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763 active?
Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763: seasonal activity - Most records of adults are February to October in the south; shortened season in the north. Larvae present from June to October; earlier in the south..
What is the life cycle of a Oak Beauty - Hodges#6763?
Two broods in south, one in north; overwinters as a pupa.