Sphacelodes vulneraria - Hodges#6800
Sphacelodes vulneraria
This record describes Sphacelodes vulneraria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Dusky brown upperwings with a small obtuse yellow or orange triangle along the leading edge. Antenna are the same color as those triangles, contrasting strongly with the dark head and body. A single tiny white fleck near the leading edge of the hindwing. Two or three concentric bands of darker brown on each wing. Male Female
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Sphacelodini
- Genus
- Sphacelodes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Recorded in the US from the Florida Keys, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, and New York. Ranges south through the Caribbean and Mexico into South America.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: In Costa Rica, the caterpillar has been collected and reared on Zizyphus guatemalensis (Rhamnaceae).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sphacelodes vulneraria. 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 Sphacelodes vulneraria - Hodges#6800 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Robert Lord Zimlich , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Sphacelodes vulneraria - Hodges#6800
What is Sphacelodes vulneraria - Hodges#6800?
Sphacelodes vulneraria - Hodges#6800 (Sphacelodes vulneraria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Sphacelodes vulneraria - Hodges#6800?
Dusky brown upperwings with a small obtuse yellow or orange triangle along the leading edge. Antenna are the same color as those triangles, contrasting strongly with the dark head and body. A single tiny white fleck near the leading edge of the hindwing. Two or three concentric bands of darker brown on each wing. Male Female
Where is Sphacelodes vulneraria - Hodges#6800 found?
Range: Recorded in the US from the Florida Keys, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, and New York. Ranges south through the Caribbean and Mexico into South America.
What does Sphacelodes vulneraria - Hodges#6800 eat?
The diet of the Sphacelodes vulneraria - Hodges#6800 includes In Costa Rica, the caterpillar has been collected and reared on Zizyphus guatemalensis (Rhamnaceae)..