Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Itame abruptata
Macaria abruptata
described in 1862 by Walker, who originally placed it in genus Camptogramma
Size
wingspan about 21-22 mm, based on three Internet photos
Identification
Adult: forewing light yellowish-brown with blurry coalesced speckling; basal, AM, and PM lines diffuse brown; fragmented black patch midway along PM line is the only dark marking, and contrasts sharply against ground color; sharp-angled jog in PM line near costa; indistinct pale patch at apex; terminal area has slightly darker shading; hindwing similar but lacks black patch; discal spot small, blurry, faint; outer margins of all wings rounded, not angular or pointed
Range
northeastern United States and adjacent Canada (Internet records from MD, MI, NY, ON, PA, QC, VA, WI)
Habitat
sandy riparian and lakeside areas where larval foodplant grows
Season
adults fly in June and July
Remarks
Apparently a local or rare species with a restricted diet, short flight season, and limited distribution. Global status G4 as of 2003.
Many species formerly in the genera
Itame and
Semiothisa were transferred to
Macaria in Malcolm Scoble's catalog, Geometrid Moths of the World (1999) - see
genus page.
See Also
Other
Macaria species lack the combination of a sharp-angled jog in the PM line near the costa and a black patch midway along the PM line as the only dark marking on the forewing (compare images of numerous related species at
CBIF and by Jim Vargo at
MPG)
Internet References
pinned adult image by John Glaser (Larry Line, Maryland)
pinned adult image by Jim Vargo (Moth Photographers Group)
pinned adult images of two specimens (CBIF)
larval foodplant - citations in two articles in Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society and Entomological Society of Washington (serpin.org)
presence in Michigan citing one record on 20 June 1998 [search on species "abruptata"] (Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary, U. of Florida)
presence in Wisconsin; PDF doc citing one male and one female (Bryant Mather, courtesy Yale U., Connecticut)
distribution in Canada listing Quebec and Ontario only (CBIF)
global status of G4 (NatureServe Explorer)
