Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674
Sericosema wilsonensis
This record describes Sericosema wilsonensis (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Cassino & Swett original description is online in the print references. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Caberini
- Genus
- Sericosema
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California and Arizona to British Columbia. Holotype from Mt. Wilson, California in July.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be April to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Arctostaphylos patula Greene (Greenleaf manzanita).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sericosema wilsonensis. 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 Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674
What is Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674?
Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674 (Sericosema wilsonensis) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674?
Cassino & Swett (1922) listed a wingspan of 30 mm.
How do you identify Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674?
Cassino & Swett original description is online in the print references. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674 found?
Range: California and Arizona to British Columbia. Holotype from Mt. Wilson, California in July.
What does Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674 eat?
The diet of the Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674 includes Arctostaphylos patula Greene (Greenleaf manzanita)..
When is Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674 active?
Sericosema wilsonensis - Hodges#6674: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be April to September..