Plataea ursaria - Hodges#6923
Plataea ursaria
This record describes Plataea ursaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Rindge description in PDF. Most similar to P. personaria, but occurring more inland, often montane, with thorax above with longitudinal median crest; length of forewings 18 to 24 mm. Distinguished from the often much paler P. californiaria by the inland localities, and then from this and diva by having a discal spot that is solid black with no central pale scales. Additionally the t.a. line tends towards acutely angled at junction of veins Cu1 and Cu2.
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 California and western Nevada to Baja California. , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Rindge reported the adults are most common from March to July with a few collected in September and October.
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 ursaria. 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 ursaria - Hodges#6923 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , James Bailey
Frequently Asked Questions About Plataea ursaria - Hodges#6923
What is Plataea ursaria - Hodges#6923?
Plataea ursaria - Hodges#6923 (Plataea ursaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Plataea ursaria - Hodges#6923?
Rindge listed the forewing length. ♂ 18-24 mm. ♀ 19-22 mm.
How do you identify Plataea ursaria - Hodges#6923?
Rindge description in PDF. Most similar to P. personaria, but occurring more inland, often montane, with thorax above with longitudinal median crest; length of forewings 18 to 24 mm. Distinguished from the often much paler P. californiaria by the inland localities, and then from this and diva by having a discal spot that is solid black with no central pale scales. Additionally the t.a. line tends towards acutely angled at junction of veins Cu1 and Cu2.
Where is Plataea ursaria - Hodges#6923 found?
Range: Rindge reported California and western Nevada to Baja California. , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Plataea ursaria - Hodges#6923 eat?
The diet of the Plataea ursaria - Hodges#6923 includes Rindge reported the host was unknown..
When is Plataea ursaria - Hodges#6923 active?
Plataea ursaria - Hodges#6923: seasonal activity - Rindge reported the adults are most common from March to July with a few collected in September and October..