Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809
Thallophaga hyperborea
This record describes Thallophaga hyperborea (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light brown with dark speckling, pale veins, and diffuse dark median line which is slightly wavy and reaches costa; apex pointed but outer margin not obviously falcate; AM and PM lines with conspicuous black dots at veins; slightly darker shading beyond PM line, blending into short faint apical dash hindwing slightly paler than forewing with faint discal spot, dotted PM line, and no median line Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Lithinini
- Genus
- Thallophaga
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
wet western coniferous forests
Geographic Range
California to British Columbia
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in April and May larvae from May to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae are solitary defoliators of conifers (Western Hemlock, Douglas-fir, Sitka Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, White Spruce, Western Redcedar, Amabilis Fir, Subalpine Fir, Grand Fir, Mountain Hemlock)
Life History
overwinters as a pupa buried in soil; adults emerge in April and May; larvae present from May to August, pupation occurs in late summer
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Thallophaga hyperborea. 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 Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809
What is Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809?
Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809 (Thallophaga hyperborea) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809?
wingspan about 33 mm, based on photo of CBIF specimen larvae to 23 mm
How do you identify Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809?
Adult: forewing light brown with dark speckling, pale veins, and diffuse dark median line which is slightly wavy and reaches costa; apex pointed but outer margin not obviously falcate; AM and PM lines with conspicuous black dots at veins; slightly darker shading beyond PM line, blending into short faint apical dash hindwing slightly paler than forewing with faint discal spot, dotted PM line, and no median line Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | wet western coniferous forests |
| Range | California to British Columbia |
What does Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809 eat?
The diet of the Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809 includes larvae are solitary defoliators of conifers (Western Hemlock, Douglas-fir, Sitka Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, White Spruce, Western Redcedar, Amabilis Fir, Subalpine Fir, Grand Fir, Mountain Hemlock).
When is Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809 active?
Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809: seasonal activity - adults fly in April and May larvae from May to August.
What is the life cycle of a Thallophaga hyperborea - Hodges#6809?
overwinters as a pupa buried in soil; adults emerge in April and May; larvae present from May to August, pupation occurs in late summer