Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Wingspan 3.0 cm. Forewing is slightly falcate, mottled pale brown with three dark lines and a black postmedian patch; hindwing is slightly dentate. This geometrid is abundant and widely distributed in western North America. Moths fly in midsummer. Caterpillars feed on the foliage of species of Pinaceae.
Similar species: Semiothisa unipunctaria is larger, wings gray, occurs in high elevation conifer forests, caterpillars feed on the foliage of species of Pinaceae; Semiothisa sexmaculata is smaller, wings uniformly dull brown with obscure markings, abundant and widespread, caterpillars feed on the foliage of western larch (Larix occidentalis); Semiothisa ulsterata forewing is falcate, deeply notched, mostly white with a red subapical and black postmedian patch, hindwing dentate, moths are common in wet conifer forests in the Pacific West, caterpillars feed on the foliage of alder (Alnus) and birch (Betula).
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/insects/macronw/31.htm
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Page Last Modified: Thursday, 03-Aug-2006 11:39:25 EDT
Menlo Park, CA [caww55]
