Pimaphera sparsaria - Hodges#6442
Pimaphera sparsaria
This record describes Pimaphera sparsaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Larvae are twig mimics with numerous annulations per segment, more reminiscent of Sterrhinae species. The prothorax features a pair of dorsal thorn-like projections that bring to mind Geometrinae species. Noticeable dorsal warts on A1 - A5 and A9, closer set on A9. Crochets arranged in pairs. Setae very short. |
| Coloration | Coloration variable but head capsule appears to always be darker than ground color. |
| Head | Head capsule itself is comprised of two angulate lobes. Zeller (1872) described the new Geometrid Boarmia psilogrammaria which was later synonymized with what is now Pimaphera sparsaria . B. psilogrammaria was described from Texas, thus extending the known range of P. sparsaria from Florida to Texas. More recent information suggests that Texas and Oklahoma are the epicenter of the distribution of the species with very few records elsewhere (Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama). |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Boarmiini
- Genus
- Pimaphera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae recorded feeding on Woolly Buckthorn ( Sideroxylon lanuginosum ) in East Texas.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pimaphera sparsaria. 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 Pimaphera sparsaria - Hodges#6442 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Chuck Sexton , George Smiley
Frequently Asked Questions About Pimaphera sparsaria - Hodges#6442
What is Pimaphera sparsaria - Hodges#6442?
Pimaphera sparsaria - Hodges#6442 (Pimaphera sparsaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Pimaphera sparsaria - Hodges#6442?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Larvae are twig mimics with numerous annulations per segment, more reminiscent of Sterrhinae species. The prothorax features a pair of dorsal thorn-like projections that bring to mind Geometrinae species. Noticeable dorsal warts on A1 - A5 and A9, closer set on A9. Crochets arranged in pairs. Setae very short. |
| Coloration | Coloration variable but head capsule appears to always be darker than ground color. |
| Head | Head capsule itself is comprised of two angulate lobes. |
What does Pimaphera sparsaria - Hodges#6442 eat?
The diet of the Pimaphera sparsaria - Hodges#6442 includes Larvae recorded feeding on Woolly Buckthorn ( Sideroxylon lanuginosum ) in East Texas..