Nemoria extremaria

Moved

Moved from Nemoria.

… Jeff Hollenbeck, 6 February, 2007 - 5:37pm

Nemoria extremaria

I have little doubt that this is Nemoria extremaria based on the fringe, the unmarked green abdomen and the fine and rather indistinct pm lines. Ferguson reported discal spots often present on extremaria. A good estimate of the wingspan measurement would be useful as a confirming piece of information as N. extremaria is quite small among Nemoria, Synchlora-sized like N. elfa, but I believe this is a very good representative individual of extremaria with particularly strong, fresh pink fringe coloration, which also conforms to Ferguson's description. We have not yet linked any good images or a species description of this small Florida species on our geometrine website

http://ourfcs.friendscentral.org/moths

but I will hope to add it to the N. American list with some detailed identifying information sometime during this next season.

… John Gruber, 5 February, 2007 - 8:07pm

Nemoria sp.

....after being unable to come up with a plausible ID by comparing photos and reading Ferguson's MONA monograph covering these species I asked Bob Belmont for an opinion. His response was:

"There are 3 or 4 Nemoria that live in this location. Many specimens are much brighter and have pink borders when they are alive like in this shot...simply to lose their luster when they die. Unfortunately I would need the specimen or accurate measurements to aid in its ID."

I don't think we can get this one down to species level.

… Bob Patterson, 1 February, 2007 - 8:47pm

Tough one

Not sure about the level of wear on this individual. This doesn't look close to any of the Florida Synchlora. Looks to be one of the Nemoria moths.
Of the Florida species, I would rule out Nemoria lixaria, N. bistriaria, N. saturiba and N. catachloa based on the lack of abdominal markings and the solid uncheckered fringe. N. mimosaria should have a white fringe and no discal spots. N. elfa has a wavy pm line. Solid unstriated wings rule out N. outina, which does not have a clear pm line in the photos I've seen. N. bifilata has a similar wing pattern, but should have a white abdominal stripe.

That leaves N. extremaria, #7028. There is one pinned photo of it up in the Vargo collection over at the MPG site. It looks very close, but the specimen there has no discal spots. The fringe is a match. Could not find any other photo or description of that species online, but it would be my best guess.

Keep in mind that my full range of expertise consists of a copy of Covell and too many hours of looking at moth photographs online.

I relied on the fsca Florida checklist and this very nice Geometrine guide for this comment.
http://ourfcs.friendscentral.org/moths/Geometrine_species.htm
http://www.fsca-dpi.org/Lepidoptera/LepidopteraFrame.htm

… Eric Haley, 30 January, 2007 - 9:25pm

Wonderful!

I would love to see a green butterfly. That coloration would give it fine protection among the leaves.

… Carol Davis, 29 January, 2007 - 12:36pm

Could be, but the wings are v

Could be, but the wings are very plain in your photo. Could it be the red-fringed emerald, Nemoria bistriaria?
I'm certainly no expert here.

… Bobby Grizzard, 28 January, 2007 - 10:46pm

thought this would be an easy one that Bob, Dennis, or one of the other moth people would have IDed by now.
I guessed Synchlora because I had a caterpillar from the same spot IDed as that.

… Jeff Hollenbeck, 29 January, 2007 - 5:56pm

I have large series of most o

I have large series of most of the Florida green geos. I can't see the entire abdomen to know if there are any spots further down, but I don't think so. I'd have to agree with Eric, nothing seems to match. N. extremaria is one species I don't have. Notice the brown mark where the antennae meet. I don't know if this is significant, but on most species that area is clearly white. This one has me stumped. It's the outer fringe that is most confusing.

… Dennis Profant, 31 January, 2007 - 5:22pm