Faded Gray - Hodges#6459
Stenoporpia polygrammaria
This record describes Stenoporpia polygrammaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Boarmiini
- Genus
- Stenoporpia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
barrens and woodlands
Geographic Range
primarily a western species occuring in southeastern Saskatchewan across southern Manitoba to central Wisconsin. Also seen in North Carolina and possiby Kentucky and West Virginia. There are historical records from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts but except for one record in Vermont it has been absent from New England for about 100 years
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in June, larvae mature in September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: bear oak Quercus ilicifolia is the only known host but the laevae will eat other oaks
Life History
probably pupate underground
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stenoporpia polygrammaria. 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 Faded Gray - Hodges#6459 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chris Mallory; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Faded Gray - Hodges#6459
How big is Faded Gray - Hodges#6459?
wingspan 35 - 40 mm, females larger than males
Where is Faded Gray - Hodges#6459 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | barrens and woodlands |
| Range | primarily a western species occuring in southeastern Saskatchewan across southern Manitoba to central Wisconsin. Also seen in North Carolina and possiby Kentucky and West Virginia. There are historical records from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts but except for one record in Vermont it has been absent from New England for about 100 years |
What does Faded Gray - Hodges#6459 eat?
The diet of the Faded Gray - Hodges#6459 includes bear oak Quercus ilicifolia is the only known host but the laevae will eat other oaks.
When is Faded Gray - Hodges#6459 active?
Faded Gray - Hodges#6459: seasonal activity - adults fly in June, larvae mature in September.
What is the life cycle of a Faded Gray - Hodges#6459?
probably pupate underground