Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths (Geometroidea) » Geometrid Moths (Geometridae) » Sterrhinae » Timandrini » Haematopis » Chickweed Geometer - Hodges#7146 (Haematopis grataria)

Species Haematopis grataria - Chickweed Geometer - Hodges#7146

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Chickweed Geometer - Haematopis grataria - male Chickweed Geometer Moth ? - Haematopis grataria moth - Haematopis grataria - male Chickweed geometer - Haematopis grataria - male Geometridae: Haematopis grataria - Haematopis grataria Haematopis grataria (Chickweed Geometer) - Haematopis grataria - female Haematopis grataria - male Lépidoptère - Haematopis grataria - male
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Geometroidea (Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths)
Family Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
Subfamily Sterrhinae
Tribe Timandrini
Genus Haematopis
Species grataria (Chickweed Geometer - Hodges#7146)
Hodges Number
7146
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Haematopis grataria – (Fabricius, 1798)
described in 1798 by Fabricius, who originally placed it in genus Phalaena
Explanation of Names
HAEMATOPIS: from the Greek "haima/haimatinos" (blood/of blood); presumably refers to the pink color on the wings, which in some specimens can be as red as blood
Numbers
the only species in this genus in North America
Size
wingspan 20-25 mm
Identification
Adult: forewing dull yellow with two pink bands crossing outer half of wing, and pink discal spot in median area

Males (below, left) have strikingly plumose (featherlike) antennae. Females (below, right) have filiform (threadlike) antennae
Sometimes mostly pink colored:
Genitalia:
Range
throughout United States; in Canada from Quebec to Alberta (absent from both coasts), north to Northwest Territories
Habitat
fields, meadows, lawns, gardens; adults often fly during the day
Season
peak flight time is August but adults may be seen from May through October
Food
larvae feed on chickweed (Stellaria spp.), smartweed/knotweed (Polygonum spp.), clover, and other low plants
Life Cycle
Eggs, larva, pupa, adult female:
See Also
no other moth is usually confused with this species
Print References
Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, Moths of Western North America, p. 222, pl. 31.31f(1)
Covell, p. 377 & plate 46 #21 (2)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - photos of living and pinned adults.
live adult images (Larry Line, Maryland)
iNaturalist
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Mass Moths
Works Cited
1.Moths of Western North America
Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.
2.Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America
Charles V. Covell, Jr. 2005.
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 16 April, 2005 - 3:54pm
Additional contributions by Mike Boone, Hannah Nendick-Mason, urtica, Tony-2, Maury Heiman, marcie oconnor, Robert H. Biagi
Last updated 12 October, 2024 - 9:25am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact