Philedia punctomacularia - Hodges#6802
Philedia punctomacularia
This record describes Philedia punctomacularia (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Upper wings light gray to grayish brown with a series of dashes along the postmedian line and the basal line. Hindwings lighter in color with faint small dashes along the postmedian line.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Lithinini
- Genus
- Philedia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western North American from British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, and California.
Seasonal Activity
Late Summer into Fall.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Philedia punctomacularia. 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 Philedia punctomacularia - Hodges#6802 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Philedia punctomacularia - Hodges#6802
What is Philedia punctomacularia - Hodges#6802?
Philedia punctomacularia - Hodges#6802 (Philedia punctomacularia) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Philedia punctomacularia - Hodges#6802?
Wingspan approximately 32-36 mm.
How do you identify Philedia punctomacularia - Hodges#6802?
Upper wings light gray to grayish brown with a series of dashes along the postmedian line and the basal line. Hindwings lighter in color with faint small dashes along the postmedian line.
Where is Philedia punctomacularia - Hodges#6802 found?
Range: Western North American from British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, and California.
When is Philedia punctomacularia - Hodges#6802 active?
Philedia punctomacularia - Hodges#6802: seasonal activity - Late Summer into Fall..