Taeniogramma mendicata - Hodges# 6424
Taeniogramma mendicata
This record describes Taeniogramma mendicata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adapted from Entomologica Americana original description: Head and collar ochreous. Thorax in front narrowly reddish ochreous, otherwise thorax, abdomen and wings soiled white; forewings heavily powdered, outwardly some striated with dark brown, a basal line faintly indicated, narrow brown marginal line, all discal spots evident. The PM line typically consists of just a series of small evenly spaced dark dots on the veins, slightly more prominent at the costa.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Cassymini
- Genus
- Taeniogramma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
S. Arizona, S. New Mexico, Texas
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Taeniogramma mendicata. 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 Taeniogramma mendicata - Hodges# 6424 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by A. Hendrickson; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Taeniogramma mendicata - Hodges# 6424
What is Taeniogramma mendicata - Hodges# 6424?
Taeniogramma mendicata - Hodges# 6424 (Taeniogramma mendicata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Taeniogramma mendicata - Hodges# 6424?
Adapted from Entomologica Americana original description: Head and collar ochreous. Thorax in front narrowly reddish ochreous, otherwise thorax, abdomen and wings soiled white; forewings heavily powdered, outwardly some striated with dark brown, a basal line faintly indicated, narrow brown marginal line, all discal spots evident. The PM line typically consists of just a series of small evenly spaced dark dots on the veins, slightly more prominent at the costa.
Where is Taeniogramma mendicata - Hodges# 6424 found?
Range: S. Arizona, S. New Mexico, Texas