Frigid wave moth - Hodges#7166
Scopula frigidaria
This record describes Scopula frigidaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sterrhinae
- Tribe
- Scopulini
- Genus
- Scopula
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Scopula frigidaria occurs in Alaska, across all of Canada and Wisconsin to Newfoundland.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight is June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The host plant for the larvae is Vaccinium myrtillus L. (whortleberry).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Scopula frigidaria. 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 Frigid wave moth - Hodges#7166 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Frigid wave moth - Hodges#7166
How big is Frigid wave moth - Hodges#7166?
Wingspan 21–23 mm.
Where is Frigid wave moth - Hodges#7166 found?
Range: Scopula frigidaria occurs in Alaska, across all of Canada and Wisconsin to Newfoundland.
What does Frigid wave moth - Hodges#7166 eat?
The diet of the Frigid wave moth - Hodges#7166 includes The host plant for the larvae is Vaccinium myrtillus L. (whortleberry)..
When is Frigid wave moth - Hodges#7166 active?
Frigid wave moth - Hodges#7166: seasonal activity - The main flight is June to August..