Scopula sentinaria - Hodges#7172
Scopula sentinaria
This record describes Scopula sentinaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults are dull red-brown to bright rusty-orange. The basal half of the fore-wings is usually suffused with darker scales. There is only one sub-species in North America. (nominate)
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
Alaska, throughout Canada, south to California and Colorado in the west The species is also found in northern Russia and the Sayan Mountains. The habitat consists of dry shrubby clearings and edges.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae have been reared on Polygonum aviculare .
Life History
Fourth or fifth instar larvae overwinter.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Scopula sentinaria. 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 Scopula sentinaria - Hodges#7172 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Scopula sentinaria - Hodges#7172
What is Scopula sentinaria - Hodges#7172?
Scopula sentinaria - Hodges#7172 (Scopula sentinaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Scopula sentinaria - Hodges#7172?
Wingspan = 20–27mm
How do you identify Scopula sentinaria - Hodges#7172?
Adults are dull red-brown to bright rusty-orange. The basal half of the fore-wings is usually suffused with darker scales.
Where is Scopula sentinaria - Hodges#7172 found?
Range: Alaska, throughout Canada, south to California and Colorado in the west The species is also found in northern Russia and the Sayan Mountains. The habitat consists of dry shrubby clearings and edges.
What does Scopula sentinaria - Hodges#7172 eat?
The diet of the Scopula sentinaria - Hodges#7172 includes Larvae have been reared on Polygonum aviculare ..
What is the life cycle of a Scopula sentinaria - Hodges#7172?
Fourth or fifth instar larvae overwinter.