Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486
Tornos scolopacinaria
This record describes Tornos scolopacinaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Genitalia: ♀ ♂ 8/7/2023 Ann Hendrickson: It is my opinion that PHOTOGRAPH identification for this species is only accurate for FEMALES. JR(females that are fresh and have very bright white ground colors can be accurately IDed as scolopacinaria, but with time, they darken, males are darker and can be misidentified as abjectarius. Dissection is needed for both species). Southern moths more variable.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Boarmiini
- Genus
- Tornos
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern half of the United States, from Long Island, southern Connecticut, southern Pennsylvania, and southern Wisconsin south to Georgia and Texas and west to central Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Seasonal Activity
All year in the south.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Aster , Coreopsis
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tornos scolopacinaria. 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 Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chuck Entz; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , ceiseman , Randy Hardy , JoAnneRusso , A. Hendrickson , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486
What is Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486?
Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486 (Tornos scolopacinaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486?
Wingspan: ♂ 21-29 mm, ♀ 23-30 mm.
How do you identify Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486?
Genitalia: ♀ ♂ 8/7/2023 Ann Hendrickson: It is my opinion that PHOTOGRAPH identification for this species is only accurate for FEMALES. JR(females that are fresh and have very bright white ground colors can be accurately IDed as scolopacinaria, but with time, they darken, males are darker and can be misidentified as abjectarius. Dissection is needed for both species).
Where is Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486 found?
Range: Eastern half of the United States, from Long Island, southern Connecticut, southern Pennsylvania, and southern Wisconsin south to Georgia and Texas and west to central Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
What does Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486 eat?
The diet of the Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486 includes Aster , Coreopsis.
When is Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486 active?
Dimorphic Gray - Hodges#6486: seasonal activity - All year in the south..