Rindgea ballandrata - Hodges#6416
Rindgea ballandrata
This record describes Rindgea ballandrata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Rindgea ballandrata usually has a small black bar which rests on top of the antemedial and the postmedial line as they approach the inner margin. This bar is absent in R. cyda . Ferguson stated ballandrata does not always have the thick bar area making genitalia examination necessary. The S-signata group consists of three very similar species. Please see notes on the range which is often helpful in determining the species. Rindgea ballandrata R. cyda R. s-signata
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Macariini
- Genus
- Rindgea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
In Arizona the range is usually limited to the Baboquivari Mountains (Pima County) and Maricopa County area. Also occurs in a limited area of Baja California (type localality) and Sonora.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named for Puerto Ballandra, Carmen Island, Mexico, where the first specimens were collected.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rindgea ballandrata. 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 Rindgea ballandrata - Hodges#6416 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Rindgea ballandrata - Hodges#6416
What is Rindgea ballandrata - Hodges#6416?
Rindgea ballandrata - Hodges#6416 (Rindgea ballandrata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Rindgea ballandrata - Hodges#6416?
Rindgea ballandrata usually has a small black bar which rests on top of the antemedial and the postmedial line as they approach the inner margin. This bar is absent in R. cyda . Ferguson stated ballandrata does not always have the thick bar area making genitalia examination necessary.
Where is Rindgea ballandrata - Hodges#6416 found?
Range: In Arizona the range is usually limited to the Baboquivari Mountains (Pima County) and Maricopa County area. Also occurs in a limited area of Baja California (type localality) and Sonora.