White-banded Carpet - Hodges#7313
Spargania luctuata
This record describes Spargania luctuata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - sexually dimorphic. Larva - pale green or brown with dark cross-shaped markings.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Hydriomenini
- Genus
- Spargania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Open areas in woodland.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae). ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet likely from Latin luctus meaning "mournful, grieving."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Spargania luctuata. 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 White-banded Carpet - Hodges#7313 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Randy Hardy; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About White-banded Carpet - Hodges#7313
What is White-banded Carpet - Hodges#7313?
White-banded Carpet - Hodges#7313 (Spargania luctuata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is White-banded Carpet - Hodges#7313?
Wingspan 30-34 mm.
How do you identify White-banded Carpet - Hodges#7313?
Adult - sexually dimorphic. Larva - pale green or brown with dark cross-shaped markings.
Where is White-banded Carpet - Hodges#7313 found?
Habitat: Open areas in woodland.
What does White-banded Carpet - Hodges#7313 eat?
The diet of the White-banded Carpet - Hodges#7313 includes Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium (Onagraceae). ( 3 ).