Size
Wingspan about 40 mm, based on Jeff Miller image at USGS
Identification
Adult: forewing dark green with black AM and PM lines, bordered medially by white; reniform and orbicular spots filled with ground color and rimmed with black and white; fringe checkered black and white
hindwing dark gray with even darker veins and pale yellowish strip extending from base to about two-thirds distance along inner margin; fringe checkered dark gray and whitish
Range
Pacific coast from British Columbia to California
Season
adults fly in early spring
Food
Larvae (caterpillars) feed on the foliage of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).
See Also
Feralia comstocki forewing has three blackish blotches around reniform spot;
F. jocosa forewing has gray median area with pale discal spots that contrast against ground color (
compare images of all three species)
F. februalis forewing pale green with large whitish discal spots; hindwing pale gray or whitish
Internet References
Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands pinned adult image by Jeff Miller, plus description, habitat, flight season, larval food plant (USGS)
pinned adult image and technical description (California Dept. of Food and Agriculture)
presence in California; list (U. of California at Berkeley)
distribution in Canada British Columbia only (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
Contributed by
Cotinis on 21 March, 2006 - 4:01pm
Additional contributions by
Robin McLeodLast updated 30 June, 2006 - 8:35pm
