Silvery Phrygionis - Hodges#6671
Phrygionis paradoxata
This record describes Phrygionis paradoxata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Florida records (including all BugGuide posts) belong to the species P. paradoxata , not P. argentata. P. argentata is currently considered to be restricted to Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas (USVI). (Brou, 2010)
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.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
South Florida, as well as the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic and Dominica.
Seasonal Activity
All months - MPG
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Phrygionis paradoxata. 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 Silvery Phrygionis - Hodges#6671 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Joshua Stuart Rose , Mike Quinn , Robert Lord Zimlich , Chris Grinter
Frequently Asked Questions About Silvery Phrygionis - Hodges#6671
What is Silvery Phrygionis - Hodges#6671?
Silvery Phrygionis - Hodges#6671 (Phrygionis paradoxata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Silvery Phrygionis - Hodges#6671 found?
Range: South Florida, as well as the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic and Dominica.
When is Silvery Phrygionis - Hodges#6671 active?
Silvery Phrygionis - Hodges#6671: seasonal activity - All months - MPG.