Rindgea nigricomma - Hodges#6407
Rindgea nigricomma
This record describes Rindgea nigricomma (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing is light gray with three brownish transverse lines crossing the wing. The medial (M) and postmedial (PM) line are fairly straight and have a dark spot where they meet the costa. The antemedial (AM) line is slightly convex. The area beyond the PM line in both FW and HW is markedly darker gray, noticeably contrasting the paler median and AM areas of the wings. The PM line has a well-defined black blotch, or group of black spots, where it crosses the 2nd and 3rd medial veins, as opposed to some related species having a diffuse black blotch instead.
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
Known from Arizona east to Louisiana, common in south Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Adults can be found all months except January and July.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Acacia smallii (Texas Huisache), now a junior synonym of Vachellia farnesiana (L.) Willd. (sweet acacia).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: nigri - Latin word meaning black or dark; comma - Greek for a short clause referring to the dark comma shaped mark along the PM line
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rindgea nigricomma. 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 nigricomma - Hodges#6407 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Jason D. Roberts , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Rindgea nigricomma - Hodges#6407
What is Rindgea nigricomma - Hodges#6407?
Rindgea nigricomma - Hodges#6407 (Rindgea nigricomma) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rindgea nigricomma - Hodges#6407?
Forewing length: males 10-13 mm. females 11-14 mm.
How do you identify Rindgea nigricomma - Hodges#6407?
Adult - forewing is light gray with three brownish transverse lines crossing the wing. The medial (M) and postmedial (PM) line are fairly straight and have a dark spot where they meet the costa. The antemedial (AM) line is slightly convex. The area beyond the PM line in both FW and HW is markedly darker gray, noticeably contrasting the paler median and AM areas of the wings. The PM line has a well-defined black blotch, or group of black spots, where it crosses the 2nd and 3rd medial veins, as opposed to some related species having a diffuse black blotch instead.
Where is Rindgea nigricomma - Hodges#6407 found?
Range: Known from Arizona east to Louisiana, common in south Texas.
What does Rindgea nigricomma - Hodges#6407 eat?
The diet of the Rindgea nigricomma - Hodges#6407 includes Larval host is Acacia smallii (Texas Huisache), now a junior synonym of Vachellia farnesiana (L.) Willd. (sweet acacia)..
When is Rindgea nigricomma - Hodges#6407 active?
Rindgea nigricomma - Hodges#6407: seasonal activity - Adults can be found all months except January and July..