Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921
Plataea calcaria
This record describes Plataea calcaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The sexes are dimorphic in color and pattern. Rindge revised description in PDF.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Plataea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Rindge reported the range to include southeastern California to Nevada and Baja California.
Seasonal Activity
Rindge reported the flight period as October to June.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Rindge reported the host was unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Plataea calcaria. 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 Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921
What is Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921?
Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921 (Plataea calcaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921?
Rindge reported the forewing length. ♂ 10-15 mm. ♀ 12-18 mm.
How do you identify Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921?
The sexes are dimorphic in color and pattern. Rindge revised description in PDF.
Where is Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921 found?
Range: Rindge reported the range to include southeastern California to Nevada and Baja California.
What does Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921 eat?
The diet of the Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921 includes Rindge reported the host was unknown..
When is Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921 active?
Plataea calcaria - Hodges#6921: seasonal activity - Rindge reported the flight period as October to June..