Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960
Tetracis hirsutaria
This record describes Tetracis hirsutaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Ferris & Schmidt description available online in PDF. Sexually dimorphic.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Tetracis (Slant-Lines)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Ferris & Schmidt listed the range as California and southern Nevada.
Seasonal Activity
Ferris & Schmidt reported early October to November flight. Moth Photographers Group reports May to July and September to November.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Ferris & Schmidt reported the larval host plants: Ceanothus L. (ceanothus) Cercocarpus Kunth (mountain mahogany) Prunus emarginata Walp. Ribes malvaceum Sm.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tetracis hirsutaria. 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 Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960
What is Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960?
Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960 (Tetracis hirsutaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960?
Forewing length 14-17 mm.
How do you identify Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960?
Ferris & Schmidt description available online in PDF. Sexually dimorphic.
Where is Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960 found?
Range: Ferris & Schmidt listed the range as California and southern Nevada.
What does Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960 eat?
The diet of the Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960 includes Ferris & Schmidt reported the larval host plants: Ceanothus L. (ceanothus) Cercocarpus Kunth (mountain mahogany) Prunus emarginata Walp. Ribes malvaceum Sm..
When is Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960 active?
Tetracis hirsutaria - Hodges#6960: seasonal activity - Ferris & Schmidt reported early October to November flight. Moth Photographers Group reports May to July and September to November..