Pterospoda opuscularia - Hodges#6707
Pterospoda opuscularia
This record describes Pterospoda opuscularia (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - color highly variable, from tan to dark red.
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
Geographic Range
Records from California, Arizona and New Mexico. , , ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on plants in the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). ( 5 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "small or petty work (diminutive of opus)."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pterospoda opuscularia. 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 opuscularia - Hodges#6707 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Randy Hardy; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Pterospoda opuscularia - Hodges#6707
What is Pterospoda opuscularia - Hodges#6707?
Pterospoda opuscularia - Hodges#6707 (Pterospoda opuscularia) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pterospoda opuscularia - Hodges#6707?
Wingspan about 30-34 mm. ,
How do you identify Pterospoda opuscularia - Hodges#6707?
Adult - color highly variable, from tan to dark red.
Where is Pterospoda opuscularia - Hodges#6707 found?
Range: Records from California, Arizona and New Mexico. , , ,
What does Pterospoda opuscularia - Hodges#6707 eat?
The diet of the Pterospoda opuscularia - Hodges#6707 includes Larvae feed on plants in the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). ( 5 ).