Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994
Sericoptera virginaria
This record describes Sericoptera virginaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Ripula virginaria Hulst and a later description as Sericoptera insularis Warren are both available online in the print references below.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Sericoptera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) Cuba, Mexico Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly year round in Florida. ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) lists the larval host as aspen(?): ( 4 ) Populus grandidnetata Populus tremuloidea
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sericoptera virginaria. 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 Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994
What is Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994?
Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994 (Sericoptera virginaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994?
Wingspan 39-42 mm. (Warren),
How do you identify Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994?
The original description as Ripula virginaria Hulst and a later description as Sericoptera insularis Warren are both available online in the print references below.
Where is Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994 found?
Range: Florida. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) Cuba, Mexico Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994 eat?
The diet of the Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994 includes Heppner (2003) lists the larval host as aspen(?): ( 4 ) Populus grandidnetata Populus tremuloidea.
When is Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994 active?
Sericoptera virginaria - Hodges#6994: seasonal activity - Adults fly year round in Florida. ,.