Prochoerodes forficaria - Hodges#6981
Prochoerodes forficaria
This record describes Prochoerodes forficaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing falcate, light tan to orangish-brown with or without blackish speckling and shading; AM line wavy, PM line slightly concave for most of length, with sharply-pointed concave bend near costa (similar to but not as pronounced as the Curve-toothed Geometer ); in dark individuals, pale wing veins contrast against ground color hindwing similarly colored but with irregular or wavy PM line; outer margin angular with shallow point near middle; small black discal spots on all wings
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Prochoerodes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia to California, east to New Mexico and Colorado
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: FORFICARIA: from the Latin "forfex" (a pair of shears) - forficate means "having a deep fork, as the tail of a swallow"; I'm not sure how this relates to P. forficaria
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Prochoerodes forficaria. 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 Prochoerodes forficaria - Hodges#6981 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Prochoerodes forficaria - Hodges#6981
What is Prochoerodes forficaria - Hodges#6981?
Prochoerodes forficaria - Hodges#6981 (Prochoerodes forficaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Prochoerodes forficaria - Hodges#6981?
wingspan 35-44 mm
How do you identify Prochoerodes forficaria - Hodges#6981?
forewing falcate, light tan to orangish-brown with or without blackish speckling and shading; AM line wavy, PM line slightly concave for most of length, with sharply-pointed concave bend near costa (similar to but not as pronounced as the Curve-toothed Geometer ); in dark individuals, pale wing veins contrast against ground color hindwing similarly colored but with irregular or wavy PM line; outer margin angular with shallow point near middle; small black discal spots on all wings
Where is Prochoerodes forficaria - Hodges#6981 found?
Range: British Columbia to California, east to New Mexico and Colorado