Plataea californiaria - Hodges#6924
Plataea californiaria
This record describes Plataea californiaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Description in PDF: Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
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
Habitat
Coastal sage habitat. ( 3 )
Geographic Range
Coastal California from Los Angeles to San Francisco. ( 3 ) , ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been found year round so multiple generations are likely. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Artemisia californica Less. (coastal sagebrush). ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Plataea californiaria. 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 californiaria - Hodges#6924 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Plataea californiaria - Hodges#6924
What is Plataea californiaria - Hodges#6924?
Plataea californiaria - Hodges#6924 (Plataea californiaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Plataea californiaria - Hodges#6924?
Forewing length 15-17 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Plataea californiaria - Hodges#6924?
Description in PDF: Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Plataea californiaria - Hodges#6924 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Coastal sage habitat. ( 3 ) |
| Range | Coastal California from Los Angeles to San Francisco. ( 3 ) , ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. |
What does Plataea californiaria - Hodges#6924 eat?
The diet of the Plataea californiaria - Hodges#6924 includes Larval host is Artemisia californica Less. (coastal sagebrush). ( 3 ).
When is Plataea californiaria - Hodges#6924 active?
Plataea californiaria - Hodges#6924: seasonal activity - Adults have been found year round so multiple generations are likely. ( 3 ).