Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368
Xanthorhoe labradorensis
This record describes Xanthorhoe labradorensis (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : A flimsy moth with a small body and broad wings. FW light grey, slightly mottled. Basal area is red brown, with prominent black AM. Median area, between AM and PM, is rust-red, with a small red-brown patch on the costa, before the apex. HW light grey. Specimens identified by DNA analysis: genitalia - apex of costa broadly pointed and exceeding length of valva; aedeagus with large, split cluster of spines at the apex. male antennae - segments doubly bifasciculate
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
Habitat
Open wooded areas and edges.
Geographic Range
Found across Canada, Alaska, and south in the east to Louisiana and Mississippi.
Seasonal Activity
One generation per year, with adults on wing from late May to late August in the northern part of the range.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed are polyphagous , and feed on a wide range of plants, including herbs and woody plants.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xanthorhoe labradorensis. 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 Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Tony-2 , Robert Lord Zimlich , JoAnneRusso , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368
What is Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368?
Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368 (Xanthorhoe labradorensis) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368?
Wingspan ≈ 25 mm
How do you identify Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368?
Adult : A flimsy moth with a small body and broad wings. FW light grey, slightly mottled. Basal area is red brown, with prominent black AM. Median area, between AM and PM, is rust-red, with a small red-brown patch on the costa, before the apex. HW light grey. Specimens identified by DNA analysis: genitalia - apex of costa broadly pointed and exceeding length of valva; aedeagus with large, split cluster of spines at the apex. male antennae - segments doubly bifasciculate
Where is Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open wooded areas and edges. |
| Range | Found across Canada, Alaska, and south in the east to Louisiana and Mississippi. |
What does Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368 eat?
The diet of the Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368 includes Larvae feed are polyphagous , and feed on a wide range of plants, including herbs and woody plants..
When is Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368 active?
Labrador Carpet Moth - Hodges#7368: seasonal activity - One generation per year, with adults on wing from late May to late August in the northern part of the range..