Sicyopsis blanchardata - Hodges#6916.1
Sicyopsis blanchardata
This record describes Sicyopsis blanchardata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Ferguson states this moth seems to have no close relatives Head: Pale, tawny-yellow. |
| Eyes | Eyes large, slightly smaller on female. Antenna: Simple, slightly thicker on male. |
| Thorax | Thorax: Pale tawny-yellow, long hairs (scales). |
| Wings | Wings: Pale tawny-yellow with a diagonal light brown line from near costal tip to about center at lower (inner) margin. Line fading near tip and progressively thickening to inner margin. Line sometimes absent. Sometimes with light shading nearer base. Small brown discal dot. Fringes pale tawny-yellow. A double accessory cell in the forewing. Male wings much lighter in color, diagonal line lighter. Hind wings pale creamy, no marks. |
| Legs | Legs: Grayish-yellow, thin. Both male and female with hind shin (tibia) spurs. Holotype male as Sicyopsis blanchardata by Douglas C. Ferguson. Type locality: Guadalupe Mountains, Culberson County, west Texas. In U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. Allotype female as Sicyopsis blanchardata by Douglas C. Ferguson. Type locality: Chisos Mountains, Brewster County, west Texas. In U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Sicyopsis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mountains
Geographic Range
Western Texas, New Mexico
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown
Life History
Unknown
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named after Andre Blanchard who discovered the moth in 1973.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sicyopsis blanchardata. 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 Sicyopsis blanchardata - Hodges#6916.1 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , lee_penner
Frequently Asked Questions About Sicyopsis blanchardata - Hodges#6916.1
What is Sicyopsis blanchardata - Hodges#6916.1?
Sicyopsis blanchardata - Hodges#6916.1 (Sicyopsis blanchardata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sicyopsis blanchardata - Hodges#6916.1?
Wing length 13 to 15 mm
How do you identify Sicyopsis blanchardata - Hodges#6916.1?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Ferguson states this moth seems to have no close relatives Head: Pale, tawny-yellow. |
| Eyes | Eyes large, slightly smaller on female. Antenna: Simple, slightly thicker on male. |
| Thorax | Thorax: Pale tawny-yellow, long hairs (scales). |
| Wings | Wings: Pale tawny-yellow with a diagonal light brown line from near costal tip to about center at lower (inner) margin. Line fading near tip and progressively thickening to inner margin. Line sometimes absent. Sometimes with light shading nearer base. Small brown discal dot. Fringes pale tawny-yellow. A double accessory cell in the forewing. Male wings much lighter in color, diagonal line lighter. Hind wings pale creamy, no marks. |
| Legs | Legs: Grayish-yellow, thin. Both male and female with hind shin (tibia) spurs. |
Where is Sicyopsis blanchardata - Hodges#6916.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mountains |
| Range | Western Texas, New Mexico |
What does Sicyopsis blanchardata - Hodges#6916.1 eat?
The diet of the Sicyopsis blanchardata - Hodges#6916.1 includes Unknown.
What is the life cycle of a Sicyopsis blanchardata - Hodges#6916.1?
Unknown