Golden-winged Palyas Moth - Hodges#6670
Phrygionis auriferaria
This record describes Phrygionis auriferaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : Palpi, head,and antennae brownish yellow. Wings golden yellow, with five lines of small purple spots on inner two thirds of FW. The first line close to the base, the second and third extra basal, parallel near each other, waved, the outer two, extra discal, near together, parallel, bent outward twice; the spots are between the veins and each surrounds a small golden metallic spot, tumid in the larger ones, the outer third of the wing is much striated with purple, forming on its inner edge a purple band. HW with some purple striations on median space; on outer two thirds a purple line, shaded broadly inwardly with purple; this line includes three or four small golden dots; outer space purple yellow, with submarginal line of metallic gold, not tumid; ocellus just anterior to middle, along margin, purple red with metallic gold speckles, edged anteriorly with black: marginal line purplish red; fringes purple. Beneath uniform light ochreous; fringe purple.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Palyadini
- Genus
- Phrygionis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Phrygionis auriferaria. 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 Golden-winged Palyas Moth - Hodges#6670 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ted Kropiewnicki; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Golden-winged Palyas Moth - Hodges#6670
What is Golden-winged Palyas Moth - Hodges#6670?
Golden-winged Palyas Moth - Hodges#6670 (Phrygionis auriferaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Golden-winged Palyas Moth - Hodges#6670?
Wingspan: 32 mm
How do you identify Golden-winged Palyas Moth - Hodges#6670?
Adult : Palpi, head,and antennae brownish yellow. Wings golden yellow, with five lines of small purple spots on inner two thirds of FW. The first line close to the base, the second and third extra basal, parallel near each other, waved, the outer two, extra discal, near together, parallel, bent outward twice; the spots are between the veins and each surrounds a small golden metallic spot, tumid in the larger ones, the outer third of the wing is much striated with purple, forming on its inner edge a purple band. HW with some purple striations on median space; on outer two thirds a purple line, shaded broadly inwardly with purple; this line includes three or four small golden dots; outer space purple yellow, with submarginal line of metallic gold, not tumid; ocellus just anterior to middle, along margin, purple red with metallic gold speckles, edged anteriorly with black: marginal line purplish red; fringes purple. Beneath uniform light ochreous; fringe purple.