Xanthorhoe packardata - Hodges#7369
Xanthorhoe packardata
This record describes Xanthorhoe packardata (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 and black patch on the costa, before the apex. HW light grey. in males - antennae simple, ciliate. male antennae in X. labradorensis are doubly bifasciculate (each segment with 2 pairs of setal bundles) Inward-pointing sharp tooth present in X. packardata (circled in red) Black AM followed by the wide red median band should separate labradorensis from all but X. packardata . Xanthorhoe are one of the most difficult groups of geometrid moths to identify, and little has been published on North American members of this genus to date. These two species are frequently misidentified in collections and elsewhere, and should be dissected for positive identification.
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
Little is known as to habitat and host plants, but likely very similar to that of X. Labradorensis .
Geographic Range
Quebec west to BC.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xanthorhoe packardata. 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 packardata - Hodges#7369 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robert Lord Zimlich; Additional contributions by JoAnneRusso , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Xanthorhoe packardata - Hodges#7369
What is Xanthorhoe packardata - Hodges#7369?
Xanthorhoe packardata - Hodges#7369 (Xanthorhoe packardata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Xanthorhoe packardata - Hodges#7369?
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 and black patch on the costa, before the apex. HW light grey. in males - antennae simple, ciliate. male antennae in X. labradorensis are doubly bifasciculate (each segment with 2 pairs of setal bundles) Inward-pointing sharp tooth present in X. packardata (circled in red)
Where is Xanthorhoe packardata - Hodges#7369 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Little is known as to habitat and host plants, but likely very similar to that of X. Labradorensis . |
| Range | Quebec west to BC. |