Scelidacantha fuscata - Hodges#7629
Scelidacantha fuscata
This record describes Scelidacantha fuscata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Grossbeck (1906) description in print references.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Chesiadini
- Genus
- Scelidacantha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California , Nevada, and Arizona. Holotype from Colton, California, "February 26", Dr. J.B. Smith.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be February to July.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Scelidacantha fuscata (Grossbeck, 1906), n. comb., was formerly in the genus Lithostege (Schmidt & McGuinness in Pohl & Nanz (eds.) 2023).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Scelidacantha fuscata. 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 Scelidacantha fuscata - Hodges#7629 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban
Frequently Asked Questions About Scelidacantha fuscata - Hodges#7629
What is Scelidacantha fuscata - Hodges#7629?
Scelidacantha fuscata - Hodges#7629 (Scelidacantha fuscata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Scelidacantha fuscata - Hodges#7629?
Grossbeck (1906) listed the wingspan 24.5 mm.
How do you identify Scelidacantha fuscata - Hodges#7629?
Grossbeck (1906) description in print references.
Where is Scelidacantha fuscata - Hodges#7629 found?
Range: California , Nevada, and Arizona. Holotype from Colton, California, February 26", Dr. J.B. Smith.
When is Scelidacantha fuscata - Hodges#7629 active?
Scelidacantha fuscata - Hodges#7629: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be February to July..