Tetracis mosesiani - Hodges#6961
Tetracis mosesiani
This record describes Tetracis mosesiani (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
- Ourapterygini
- Genus
- Tetracis (Slant-Lines)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Coastal California from near sea level to 3000’
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly October to early December
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval host is Lonicera hispidula
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tetracis mosesiani. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tetracis mosesiani - Hodges#6961
How big is Tetracis mosesiani - Hodges#6961?
forewing length 17 – 23 mm
Where is Tetracis mosesiani - Hodges#6961 found?
Range: Coastal California from near sea level to 3000’
What does Tetracis mosesiani - Hodges#6961 eat?
The diet of the Tetracis mosesiani - Hodges#6961 includes larval host is Lonicera hispidula.
When is Tetracis mosesiani - Hodges#6961 active?
Tetracis mosesiani - Hodges#6961: seasonal activity - Adults fly October to early December.