Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Author: (Guenée, [1858]) As Selidosema juturnaria
Synonyms (see pg. 6 of Rindge 1950 for complete synonymy and bibliography):
Sericosema californiaria (Packard, 1871)
Sericosema inturnaria (Gumppenberg, 1892)
Numbers
One of four North American species north of Mexico.
(1)Size
Forewing length 16 - 20 mm.
(1)Identification
Adults - The relatively large size, conspicuously pectinate antennae and unmarked, broadly brown-bordered wings will distinguish this species. Forewing ground color pale gray brown with darker brown, reddish brown, and pink scales, usually rather heavily strigate and suffused with these latter along costal margin and distad of t. p. line; costa with numerous small, dark brown patches of scales, continuing towards radial vein as fine, lighter brown strigations, often becoming fewer in number and more indistinct posterior to this; basal area of wing to t. p. line unicolorous, unmarked except as above noted; t. p. line dark smoky brown, prominent, broad, diffuse, rarely obsolescent, arising on costa three-fifths to two-thirds distance from base at right angle, swinging outward in broad curve below radial veins to vein M3, recurving and running subparallel with outer margin, gradually decreasing in width, with slight outward bulge just above vein 2A, meeting inner margin with strong basal bend about threefourths distance from base; broad, diffuse, dark smoky brown subterminal shading present in varying degrees, usually present below apex, nearly always present opposite outward curve in t. p. line, often completely filling area between line and fringes; fringes concolorous or with pinkish tinge, unmarked or with faint venular spots of dark brown. Hind wings concolorous with forewings; t. p. line usually absent, rarely indicated by few brown scales, or showing through from under surface; subterminal area usually with broad, diffuse, dark smoky brown shading, most prominent near outer angle, fading out posteriorly; fringes as on primaries.
Larvae - Gray with alternating dark gray bands, spiracles are yellow.
(1)
Range
Southern BC and extreme southwestern AB south to California (McGuffin 1981). Powell & Opler
(1) add Utah and Colorado.
Habitat
Likely dry, shrubby or open montane slopes.
Season
Single flight from May to mid August
(1)Food
Larvae feed on Ceanothus sanguineus and Rhamnus sp.
Life Cycle
Eggs laid on the ground where they overwinter, and the grey larvae mimic twigs and rest outstretched (see Miller 1995 for an illustration of the larva). Pupation is in a cocoon underground (McGuffin 1981).
Print References
Rindge, F.H. (1950). A revision of the geometrid genus
Sericosema, American Museum Novitates, No. 1468: 1-30. (
Full Text - keys to species/subspecies)
Internet References
CBIF -
Images of pinned adults
BOLD (formerly "All-Leps") -
Images of pinned adults & map of collection points
Alberta Entomology -
Life cycle, range, and other data