Triphosa bipectinata - Hodges#7288
Triphosa bipectinata
This record describes Triphosa bipectinata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Barnes & McDunnough (1917) original description is presented below and online at the link in the print references. Palpi upturned to about level of front; antennae bipectinate; thorax and primaries light shiny gray-brown, the latter crossed by numerous darker undulate lines; basal and median areas darker than the remainder of wing; postmedian area with the cross lines merely marked by dots and slight arrow marks on the veins. Secondaries rather uniform smoky with faint traces of the lines of primaries; outer margin of both wings faintly crenulate and marked by dots on each side of the veins. Beneath smoky with scarcely a trace of the maculation of the upper side showing through.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Hydriomenini
- Genus
- Triphosa (Tissue Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona and southern California to western Colorado. Holotype ♂ from Palmerlee, Cochise County, Arizona.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Triphosa bipectinata. 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 Triphosa bipectinata - Hodges#7288 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Triphosa bipectinata - Hodges#7288
What is Triphosa bipectinata - Hodges#7288?
Triphosa bipectinata - Hodges#7288 (Triphosa bipectinata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Triphosa bipectinata - Hodges#7288?
Barnes & McDunnough (1917) listed a wingspan of 35 mm.
How do you identify Triphosa bipectinata - Hodges#7288?
Barnes & McDunnough (1917) original description is presented below and online at the link in the print references. Palpi upturned to about level of front; antennae bipectinate; thorax and primaries light shiny gray-brown, the latter crossed by numerous darker undulate lines; basal and median areas darker than the remainder of wing; postmedian area with the cross lines merely marked by dots and slight arrow marks on the veins. Secondaries rather uniform smoky with faint traces of the lines of primaries; outer margin of both wings faintly crenulate and marked by dots on each side of the veins. Beneath smoky with scarcely a trace of the maculation of the upper side showing through.
Where is Triphosa bipectinata - Hodges#7288 found?
Range: Arizona and southern California to western Colorado. Holotype ♂ from Palmerlee, Cochise County, Arizona.