Swag-lined Wave - Hodges#7156
Scopula umbilicata
This record describes Scopula umbilicata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: wings white with sparse speckling, and light gray shading beyond PM line; AM, median, and PM lines brown, wavy; black discal dot on all wings, and black spot at apex of forewing (a distinctive feature).
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
mostly: TX, FL, but also AZ, GA, OK / W. Indies - Map (MPG)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Scopula umbilicata. 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 Swag-lined Wave - Hodges#7156 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Swag-lined Wave - Hodges#7156
What is Swag-lined Wave - Hodges#7156?
Swag-lined Wave - Hodges#7156 (Scopula umbilicata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Swag-lined Wave - Hodges#7156?
Wingspan about 18 mm.
How do you identify Swag-lined Wave - Hodges#7156?
Adult: wings white with sparse speckling, and light gray shading beyond PM line; AM, median, and PM lines brown, wavy; black discal dot on all wings, and black spot at apex of forewing (a distinctive feature).
Where is Swag-lined Wave - Hodges#7156 found?
Range: mostly: TX, FL, but also AZ, GA, OK / W. Indies - Map (MPG)