Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands

Eulithis xylina [Geometridae]

Wingspan 3.4 cm. Forewing has a dark brown median band with a smooth outer margin. This geometrid is common and widely distributed in western North America. Moths fly in midsummer. Caterpillars are generalist feeders on the foliage of flowering trees and shrubs, particularly alder (Alnus), cottonwood (Populus), azalea (Rhododendron), rose (Rosa), willow (Salix), and huckleberry (Vaccinium).

Similar species: Eulithis destinata forewing is gray; Eulithis harveyata forewing with a black median band and a yellow postmedian area; both species of Eulithis feed on huckleberry (Vaccinium); Eustroma semiatrata forewing with a black median band that has a jagged outer margin; Ecliptopera silaceata is smaller, forewing with a smooth rounded outer margin to the median band.

Previous Species -- Eulithis propulsata
Return to Listing of Geometridae
Next Species -- Eustroma semiatrata