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Species Hypagyrtis esther - Esther Moth - Hodges#6655

Esther Moth - Hodges #6655 - Hypagyrtis esther - female Esther Moth - Hypagyrtis esther - female  Esther Moth - Hypagyrtis esther - female uknown Geometrid #1 - Hypagyrtis esther - female unknown moth - Hypagyrtis esther - female Esther moth - Hypagyrtis esther Hypagyrtis esther Hypagyrtis esther
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Geometroidea (Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths)
Family Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
Subfamily Ennominae
Tribe Bistonini
Genus Hypagyrtis
Species esther (Esther Moth - Hodges#6655)
Hodges Number
6655
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Hypagyrtis esther (Barnes)
Paraphia esther Barnes, 1928
Size
Wingspan 25-45 mm, female larger
Identification
Similar to H. unipunctata (One-spotted Variant), but wings evenly violet-gray, not mottled. Beyond postmedian line they are reddish brown. Melanic individuals are a chocolate brown.
Range
TX-FL-NH-IA (plus a few outer strays) - Map (MPG)
Habitat
Presumably in or near pine forests
Season
adults fly Apr-Oct (MPG)
Food
Larvae feed on leaves of pines
See Also
H. unipunctata (One-spotted Variant) usually has lighter yellowish-tan to orangish wings, mottled with white, brown, and blackish
Distinction between unipunctata and esther by external appearances not reliable. See Bob Belmont's Variant Page at MPG.
Print References
Covell, p. 357, plate 51 (1)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group – images of live & pinned adults
BOLD Systems - images of pinned DNA supported specimens
Maryland Moths adult images (Larry Line, Maryland)
Works Cited
1.Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Moths
Charles V. Covell. 1984. Houghton Mifflin Company.