Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands

Hesperumia sulphuraria [Geometridae]

Wingspan 3.5 cm. Forewing is a pale to dark yellow with purple-brown median and basal bands and a broad purple-brown discal spot; markings are variable from very prominent bands to nearly no marks except for the discal spot. This geometrid is common and widely distributed in western North America. Moths fly in midsummer. Caterpillars are generalist feeders on the foliage of many flowering trees and shrubs, such as snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus), manzanita (Arctostaphylos), ocean spray (Holodiscus discolor), bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), currant (Ribes), and huckleberry (Vaccinium).

Similar species: Neoterpes trianguliferata (Geometridae) forewing strongly falcate and yellow with two purple costal bands, widely distributed in western North America, caterpillars feed on foliage of currant (Ribes).

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