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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths (Geometroidea) » Geometrid Moths (Geometridae) » Larentiinae » Hydriomenini » White-Ribboned Carpets (Mesoleuca) » Western White-Ribboned Carpet - Hodges#7308 (Mesoleuca gratulata)

Species Mesoleuca gratulata - Western White-Ribboned Carpet - Hodges#7308

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Internet References
Western White-ribboned Carpet - Mesoleuca gratulata Small Black and White Lep - Mesoleuca gratulata Mesoleuca gratulata black and white butterfly - Mesoleuca gratulata Mesoleuca gratulata Mesoleuca gratulata Mesoleuca gratulata (?) - Mesoleuca gratulata Small Unknown Butterfly - Mesoleuca gratulata
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 Larentiinae
Tribe Hydriomenini
Genus Mesoleuca (White-Ribboned Carpets)
Species gratulata (Western White-Ribboned Carpet - Hodges#7308)
Hodges Number
7308
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Mesoleuca gratulata (Walker, 1862)
Explanation of Names
GRATULATA: from the Latin "gratulatus" (to express joy or gratification at the sight of); the first yearly sighting of these pretty and conspicuous day-flying moths is gratifying because it is a sure sign of spring in the west
Numbers
One of just 2 species in genus in NA
Size
wingspan 23-27 mm
Identification
forewing with broad white medial band and broad black curving postmedial band; prominent black discal spot; basal area black
Range
California to Colorado, north to southern BC and Alberta
Habitat
woodlands and parks
Season
adults fly during the day mostly in early spring (February-April), with a few late stragglers until mid-June
larvae present from early to late spring
Food
larvae feed on leaves of Rubus species and hazel (Corylus cornuta)
Life Cycle
eggs are laid singly in early spring on leaves or buds of Blackberry (Rubus discolor) or Thimbleberry (R. parviflora); caterpillars hatch in about 10 days, pupate in about 3 weeks, and overwinter; adults emerge the following spring
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - range map, photos of living and pinned adults.
Barcode of Life (BOLD)
live larva and adult images plus biology (Jeremy Tatum, Butterflies and Moths of Southern Vancouver Island)
pinned adult image [by Jeff Miller] (Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands; USGS)
Contributed by A.W. Thomas on 31 March, 2005 - 5:18am
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, Maury Heiman, marcie oconnor, Steve Morris
Last updated 20 April, 2024 - 8:44am

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