Explanation of Names
CERVINARIA: perhaps from the Latin "cervinus", from "cervus" (a deer), although I can't guess what association the moth has with a deer or the deer family; any ideas appreciated
Identification
Adult: forewing falcate (outer margin concave near apex), yellowish-brown to brownish-gray; AM and PM lines distinct, mostly straight (AM line curves gently near costa) and either paler or darker than ground color; veins noticeably paler than ground color
hindwing pointed, similarly-colored except for diffuse whitish shading along costal margin, and a single straight median line
Larva: a twig mimic; body light green to greenish-brown; dorsal hump on second thoracic segment; small dorsal wart on abdominal segments four and eight
Range
west coast states, east to Utah, north to British Columbia
Season
adults fly from spring to mid-summer
larvae from June to August
Food
larvae feed on leaves of alder, Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), cascara, Ceanothus species, Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), willow
Life Cycle
one generation per year; overwinters as an egg
See Also
S. jubararia and
pallulata are similar but have sparsely speckled forewings, a sinuous PM line, and fly in late summer and fall (
compare images of all three species)
Prochoerodes forficaria has less pointed wings, a sharp angle in the PM line near the forewing costa, and veins are not noticeably paler than ground color (
compare images of both species)
Internet References
pinned adult images of three specimens, showing color variation (CBIF)
pinned adult image plus description, food plants, and flight season (Jeff Miller, Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands; USGS)
live larva image plus description and food plants (Jeffrey Miller, Caterpillars of Pacific Northwest Forests and Woodlands; USGS)
presence in California; list (U. of California at Berkeley)
presence in Utah; list (Joel Johnson, Utah Lepidopterists Society)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 2 February, 2006 - 12:40am
Last updated 27 April, 2007 - 12:37am
