Thera otisi - Hodges#7219
Thera otisi
This record describes Thera otisi (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Dyar (1904) original description as Mesoleuca simulata otisi is available in the print references. Larva have yellowish green head, body is green with yellowish subdorsal stripe. Spiracular stripe is red and white, with the red on top. Mature larva reach 16 mm. Uncommon.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Hydriomenini
- Genus
- Thera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia and western Alberta south to southern Colorado, Oregon and eastern Arizona
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly August to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Juniperus communis (common juniper).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Thera otisi. 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 Thera otisi - Hodges#7219 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Thera otisi - Hodges#7219
What is Thera otisi - Hodges#7219?
Thera otisi - Hodges#7219 (Thera otisi) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Thera otisi - Hodges#7219?
Forewing length 12-14 mm.
How do you identify Thera otisi - Hodges#7219?
Dyar (1904) original description as Mesoleuca simulata otisi is available in the print references. Larva have yellowish green head, body is green with yellowish subdorsal stripe. Spiracular stripe is red and white, with the red on top. Mature larva reach 16 mm.
Where is Thera otisi - Hodges#7219 found?
Range: British Columbia and western Alberta south to southern Colorado, Oregon and eastern Arizona
What does Thera otisi - Hodges#7219 eat?
The diet of the Thera otisi - Hodges#7219 includes Larval host is Juniperus communis (common juniper)..
When is Thera otisi - Hodges#7219 active?
Thera otisi - Hodges#7219: seasonal activity - Adults fly August to September..