Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706
Pterospoda nigrescens
This record describes Pterospoda nigrescens (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Selidosema nigrescens is available online in the print references below.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Caberini
- Genus
- Pterospoda
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Arid scrub and open woodlands.
Geographic Range
Arizona; Texas. It is not known from New Mexico but should be present there. Moth Photographers Group map
Seasonal Activity
Arizona: adults have been recorded in April and August. Texas: adults have been recorded April-June and October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae have been reared on Condalia , in Arizona.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pterospoda nigrescens. 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 Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by A. Hendrickson
Frequently Asked Questions About Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706
What is Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706?
Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706 (Pterospoda nigrescens) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706?
Wingspan about 24-27 mm.
How do you identify Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706?
The original description as Selidosema nigrescens is available online in the print references below.
Where is Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Arid scrub and open woodlands. |
| Range | Arizona; Texas. It is not known from New Mexico but should be present there. Moth Photographers Group map |
What does Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706 eat?
The diet of the Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706 includes Larvae have been reared on Condalia , in Arizona..
When is Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706 active?
Pterospoda nigrescens - Hodges#6706: seasonal activity - Arizona: adults have been recorded in April and August. Texas: adults have been recorded April-June and October..