Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386
Xanthorhoe defensaria
This record describes Xanthorhoe defensaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimens identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Xanthorhoini
- Genus
- Xanthorhoe
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia to California, east to Arizona and Utah
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in spring and again in fall
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae have been found feeding on flowers of Begonia , and reared on flowers of bramble ( Rubus spp.) [Jeremy Tatum, British Columbia]
Life History
Eggs, adult female:
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xanthorhoe defensaria. 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 Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386
What is Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386?
Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386 (Xanthorhoe defensaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386?
wingspan 22-28 mm
How do you identify Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386?
Specimens identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386 found?
Range: British Columbia to California, east to Arizona and Utah
What does Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386 eat?
The diet of the Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386 includes larvae have been found feeding on flowers of Begonia , and reared on flowers of bramble ( Rubus spp.) [Jeremy Tatum, British Columbia].
When is Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386 active?
Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386: seasonal activity - adults fly in spring and again in fall.
What is the life cycle of a Xanthorhoe defensaria - Hodges#7386?
Eggs, adult female: