Pherne sperryi - Hodges#6951
Pherne sperryi
This record describes Pherne sperryi (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Per McDunnough (1935) - Male . Head, thorax and primaries pale creamy, the latter lightly suffused with olive-ochreous; median area broader than in allied species and shaded, next to the t.a. and t.p. lines, with deeper olive-ochreous than the ground color, this darker shade more or less defining these lines. T.a. line from costa at about one-third, with sharp outward angle immediately below costa and then slightly inwardly oblique to inner margin at one-third; t.p. line from costa at three-quarters, parallel to outer margin to vein 5, rather abruptly incurved to vein 3 and then perpendicular to inner margin at two-thirds; fringes unicolorous light ochreous. Secondaries scarcely angled, silky whitish, with slight ochreous tinges along outer margin and very faint traces of a discal dot. Female . Rather more heavily suffused on primaries with ochreous than in the male, especially in the median area, where there is also a trace of a small oblique discal dash; t.p. line more gently sinuate and median area in consequence definitely broader. As is usual the antennae are bipectinate in both sexes, the pectinations in the female being distinct but much shorter than in the male;...
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Pherne
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Described from the Providence Mountains of the Mojave Desert.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is March to October.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Mr. J.L. Sperry who collected the specimens for description.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pherne sperryi. 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 Pherne sperryi - Hodges#6951 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Pherne sperryi - Hodges#6951
What is Pherne sperryi - Hodges#6951?
Pherne sperryi - Hodges#6951 (Pherne sperryi) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pherne sperryi - Hodges#6951?
male wingspan 26-29 mm; female wingspan 30-33 mm
How do you identify Pherne sperryi - Hodges#6951?
Per McDunnough (1935) - Male . Head, thorax and primaries pale creamy, the latter lightly suffused with olive-ochreous; median area broader than in allied species and shaded, next to the t.a. and t.p. lines, with deeper olive-ochreous than the ground color, this darker shade more or less defining these lines. T.a. line from costa at about one-third, with sharp outward angle immediately below costa and then slightly inwardly oblique to inner margin at one-third; t.p. line from costa at three-quarters, parallel to outer margin to vein 5, rather abruptly incurved to vein 3 and then perpendicular to inner margin at two-thirds; fringes unicolorous light ochreous. Secondaries scarcely angled, silky whitish, with slight ochreous tinges along outer margin and very faint traces of a discal dot. Female . Rather more heavily suffused on primaries with ochreous than in the male, especially in the median area, where there is also a trace of a small oblique discal dash; t.p. line more gently sinuate and median area in consequence definitely broader. As is usual the antennae are bipectinate in both sexes, the pectinations in the female being distinct but much shorter than in the male;...
Where is Pherne sperryi - Hodges#6951 found?
Range: Described from the Providence Mountains of the Mojave Desert.
When is Pherne sperryi - Hodges#6951 active?
Pherne sperryi - Hodges#6951: seasonal activity - The main flight period is March to October..