Stamnodes seiferti - Hodges#7353
Stamnodes seiferti
This record describes Stamnodes seiferti (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Upper side and lower front wing dull yellowish orange to orange; front wing crossed part way by bold dark diagonal bar, and above with dark apex often extending narrowly downward along outer margin. Lower hind wing finely mottled or striated in shades of gray and brown.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Stamnodini
- Genus
- Stamnodes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Found primarily in lower mountains in areas of brush and open woodland.
Geographic Range
Arizona, New Mexico, and Trans-Pecos Texas, into northern Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Adults in autumn, mostly in late September and October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include Cercocarpus and perhaps Fallugia paradoxa - Rosaceae. [note added 12-12-15 from David J. Ferguson: Fallugia paradoxa is the prefered host along the west base of the Manzano Mountains in central NM where Cercocarpus is absent or rare. Adult moths are strongly associated with this plant and females can be found literally swarming around it in some years at the proper season. Larvae can be quite abundant, to the point of defoliating the shrubs.]
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: From the original description: "I take great pleasure in naming this handsome Geometrid after my good friend and ardent entomologist, Mr. Otto Seifert"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stamnodes seiferti. 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 Stamnodes seiferti - Hodges#7353 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chuck Entz; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Stamnodes seiferti - Hodges#7353
What is Stamnodes seiferti - Hodges#7353?
Stamnodes seiferti - Hodges#7353 (Stamnodes seiferti) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Stamnodes seiferti - Hodges#7353?
Upper side and lower front wing dull yellowish orange to orange; front wing crossed part way by bold dark diagonal bar, and above with dark apex often extending narrowly downward along outer margin. Lower hind wing finely mottled or striated in shades of gray and brown.
Where is Stamnodes seiferti - Hodges#7353 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Found primarily in lower mountains in areas of brush and open woodland. |
| Range | Arizona, New Mexico, and Trans-Pecos Texas, into northern Mexico. |
What does Stamnodes seiferti - Hodges#7353 eat?
The diet of the Stamnodes seiferti - Hodges#7353 includes Larval hosts include Cercocarpus and perhaps Fallugia paradoxa - Rosaceae. [note added 12-12-15 from David J. Ferguson: Fallugia paradoxa is the prefered host along the west base of the Manzano Mountains in central NM where Cercocarpus is absent or rare. Adult moths are strongly associated with this plant and females can be found literally swarming around it in some years at the proper season. Larvae can be quite abundant, to the point of defoliating the shrubs.].
When is Stamnodes seiferti - Hodges#7353 active?
Stamnodes seiferti - Hodges#7353: seasonal activity - Adults in autumn, mostly in late September and October.