Nemoria zygotaria? - Xerochlora mesotheides

Moved

… Bob Biagi, 5 October, 2017 - 10:50am

Xerochlora

I agree with John's comment below and I came to a similar conclusion, based mainly on the strange wing shape, coloration and texture. BOLD has at least two records of Xerochlora mesotheides from Brewster County, Texas.
I like your sizing methods, but we don't really need that image. So, it should be frassed. Just include a note about it in your text.
Size:
Based on your stitch measurements, (15 threads = 5mm) 32 threads = (~11mm)

… Bob Biagi, 5 October, 2017 - 9:47am

Xerochlora

This is a Geometrine moth, but I don't believe it is Nemoria - it seems to me much more likely to be one of the Xerochlora species, and appears from wing markings and location to perhaps conform to X. mesotheides. We maintain a useful website on the Geometrine emerald moths of US and Canada here: http://moths.friendscentral.org/ - you can see images and descriptions of this genus on that site at these links http://moths.friendscentral.org/xerochlora.html and see what you think... As I noted, it looks to me like it may be Xerochlora mesotheides, a species I have collected in Texas and that is documented from Big Bend NP, but that species is small (fw length 8 - 11 mm). (I can't judge the exact size from your image, but 15 mm would be large for mesotheides)

… John Gruber, 4 October, 2017 - 12:36pm

Thanks for your comment. I me

Thanks for your comment. I measured the size by counting the number of threads on the white sheet. On this sheet 15 threads measure about 5 mm. See this measurement here. I had originally considered X. mesotheides but decided it was too large.

… Donald R Riley, 4 October, 2017 - 2:05pm

Xerochlora sp.

I like that measuring system! I still feel confident that this is a Xerochlora species. My sense is that either it is large and the mesotheides size can be larger than what has been recorded, or it is a different Xerochlora species. Did you collect this specimen or just get the photograph? If collected, we would be happy to do the DNA sequencing barcode to determine the identification...

… John Gruber, 4 October, 2017 - 7:06pm

Thanks again. No I did not co

Thanks again. No I did not collect it but I like to go back there every 3-4 months so If I find another one I will collect it if possible.

… Donald R Riley, 5 October, 2017 - 2:50pm