Semaeopus marginata - Hodges#7145
Semaeopus marginata
This record describes Semaeopus marginata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to Semaeopus ella , but generally plainer yellow, more mottled, and with a collapsed forewing discal spot. Females have a distinct dark wing margin.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sterrhinae
- Tribe
- Cosymbiini
- Genus
- Semaeopus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Texas; Mexico. ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Semaeopus marginata. 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 Semaeopus marginata - Hodges#7145 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , James Bailey
Frequently Asked Questions About Semaeopus marginata - Hodges#7145
What is Semaeopus marginata - Hodges#7145?
Semaeopus marginata - Hodges#7145 (Semaeopus marginata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Semaeopus marginata - Hodges#7145?
Schaus listed the wingspan as 25-29 mm. Moth Photographers Group displays two wingspans of 21 mm.
How do you identify Semaeopus marginata - Hodges#7145?
Similar to Semaeopus ella , but generally plainer yellow, more mottled, and with a collapsed forewing discal spot. Females have a distinct dark wing margin.
Where is Semaeopus marginata - Hodges#7145 found?
Range: Southern Texas; Mexico. ,