Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742
Xanthotype rufaria
This record describes Xanthotype rufaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description is available online in the print references below. The Rindge revised description, including detailed description of genitalia, is available in PDF.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Angeronini
- Genus
- Xanthotype
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
New Jersey to Florida and Missouri to Louisiana. , , Holotype collected in Glenwood, Volusia County, Florida. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from May to August. ( 3 ) Heppner (2003) reported adults from February to June, August to October, December in Florida. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host unknown. ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xanthotype rufaria. 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 Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742
What is Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742?
Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742 (Xanthotype rufaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742?
Forewing length: ♂ 14-19 mm. ♀ 15-25 mm.
How do you identify Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742?
The original description is available online in the print references below. The Rindge revised description, including detailed description of genitalia, is available in PDF.
Where is Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742 found?
Range: New Jersey to Florida and Missouri to Louisiana. , , Holotype collected in Glenwood, Volusia County, Florida. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742 eat?
The diet of the Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742 includes Larval host unknown. ,.
When is Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742 active?
Rufous Geometer Moth - Hodges#6742: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from May to August. ( 3 ) Heppner (2003) reported adults from February to June, August to October, December in Florida. ( 5 ).