Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414
Rindgea s-signata
This record describes Rindgea s-signata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing off-white to pale yellowish or buff with strongly curved S-shaped black PM line; discal spot small or absent; AM line faint or sometimes absent; median line faint or absent; PM line interrupted by short space near costa, and edged distally by diffuse band of grayish=brown shading; hindwing same color as forewing but PM line is thin, brown, almost straight, and completely crosses wing. Genitalia: ♀ ♂ 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 6/5/2022 by Ann Hendrickson: I have just discovered an error in the naming of the Male genitalia in the Ferguson fascicle on Page 340. Since I have made all of my identifications from the Male genitalia, I have missed this for YEARS! I made this discovery when I recently reared Rindgea s-signata for the FIRST TIME. The mother dissects as the Ferguson R. s-signata while 5 males from the brood dissect as the Ferguson named Rindgea cyda photographs b & d! That would indicate that the female dissections are the ones that are correctly named. The caterpillar posted on BOLD as TXLEP669-19, BIN, BOLD:AAF0914 was beaten from a Mesquite tree and matches Rindgea cyda, however, it is not Barcode compliant as is the comparison specimen. All of my barcode compliant specimens match. I am hoping that when I submit three specimens that dissect as R.s-signata, they will not match the others!
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
Ferguson reported the species is restricted to Texas from San Antonio south to Coahuila, Mexico. He also mentioned one stray record from Colfax County, New Mexico in 1989. Rindge mentions the confusion over the specimens outside of Texas being called s-signata . Moths of Southeastern Arizona has older specimens labeled s-signata .
Seasonal Activity
The average flight period is February through November.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae have been reared on Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rindgea s-signata. 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 Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , A. Hendrickson , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414
What is Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414?
Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414 (Rindgea s-signata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414?
Ferguson listed the forewing length. ♂ 10-13 mm. ♀ 10-15 mm.
How do you identify Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414?
Adult: forewing off-white to pale yellowish or buff with strongly curved S-shaped black PM line; discal spot small or absent; AM line faint or sometimes absent; median line faint or absent; PM line interrupted by short space near costa, and edged distally by diffuse band of grayish=brown shading; hindwing same color as forewing but PM line is thin, brown, almost straight, and completely crosses wing. Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414 found?
Range: Ferguson reported the species is restricted to Texas from San Antonio south to Coahuila, Mexico. He also mentioned one stray record from Colfax County, New Mexico in 1989. Rindge mentions the confusion over the specimens outside of Texas being called s-signata . Moths of Southeastern Arizona has older specimens labeled s-signata .
What does Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414 eat?
The diet of the Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414 includes The larvae have been reared on Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite)..
When is Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414 active?
Signate Looper Moth - Hodges#6414: seasonal activity - The average flight period is February through November..