Species Speranza ribearia - Currant Spanworm - Hodges#6274

6274

Itame ribearia

Macaria ribearia

described in 1848 by Fitch, who originally placed it in genus Abraxas

wingspan about 29 mm, based on three Internet photos

Adult: forewing pale yellow with variable brownish-gray markings; dark patch near middle of subterminal area sometimes forms larger broad subterminal band; three or four evenly-spaced dark dashes usually present along costa; fringe pale yellow; hindwing slightly paler with fainter and reduced markings; fringe pale yellow

southern Quebec to Maryland, west to Oklahoma, Colorado, and southern Alberta

open woodlands and shrubby areas containing hostplants (currant and gooseberry); adults may be active during the day, and are also nocturnal and come to light

adults fly from late June to early September

larvae feed on leaves of currant and gooseberry (Ribes spp.)

one generation per year; overwinters as an egg

Handfield (1); text account on page 189; pinned adult images of male and female on plate 25

species account including pinned adult images by G.G. Anweiler, common name reference, habitat, flight season, description, similar species, larval foodplants, distribution (Strickland Entomological Museum, U. of Alberta)

live and pinned adult images by various photographers, and pinned adult images of related species by Jim Vargo (Moth Photographers Group)

pinned adult image by John Glaser, plus dates, locations, larval foodplants (Larry Line, Maryland)

live adult images and dates (Lynn Scott, Ontario)

larval foodplants; PDF doc plus flight season and life cycle (Macrolepidoptera of Mont Saint-Hilaire Region, McGill U., Quebec)

pinned adult image and distribution in Canada listing provinces of occurrence (CBIF)

presence in Oklahoma and Colorado; list with dates and locations [search on species "ribearia"] (Lepidopterists Society Season Summary, U. of Florida)

author, date, and original genus (nearctica.com)