Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Tetracis jubararia Hulst, 1886
Synaxis jubararia McDunnough, 1938
The genus Synaxis is synonymized with Tetracis, Ferris and Schmidt, 2010
Size
Forewing length 17–26 mm.
Identification
Adult - Base color generally tan and dark brown-tan (males) and orange-tan (females). FW apex falcate. AM and PM lines brown; PM line narrow, sinuate, sometimes with very narrowpale outer edge, bending basad at vein M3; MB colored as rest of wing, often with a diffuse darker central patch; submarginal area dark diffuse banding frequently present. Additional patchy markings may be present producing a “dead-leaf” aspect. DHW with poorly-developed median line that fades out toward upper margin. Dark discal spots on FW and HW. Ventrally paler with dorsal markings repeated; wing surfaces with widelyscattered dark scales suggesting a “dead-leaf” pattern.
Larva - a twig mimic; body marbled grayish-brown or yellowish-brown with large dorsal hump on first thoracic segment
Range
Southern California
(1) to British Columbia to central Saskatchewan, southwestern Idaho, and White Pine Co., Nevada at elevations from 490–7400’ (150–2255m).
(2)Habitat
Western coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forests and woodlands
Season
Adults fly from mid-August to late November, depending upon locality and elevation
Food
Larval hosts include Alnus, Betula, Cornus, Populus, Ribes.
See Also
Separation of T. jubararia jubararia from T. mosesiani in coastal California counties is difficult and positive identification is by genitalia. Over the remainder of its range (inland and northern California north to British Columbia), the absence of pale shading distad of the PM line separates jubararia from similarly colored examples of pallulata. T. jubararia jubararia does not exhibit the buff (pale yellow-ochre) color found in its subspecies sericeata
Print References
Ferris, C.D. & B.C. Schmidt, 2010. Revision of the North American genera
Tetracis Guenée and synonymization of
Synaxis Hulst with descriptions of three new species.
Zootaxa 2347: 1–36.
PDFInternet References
pinned adult image plus habitat, flight season, larval foodplants, similar species (Jeff Miller, Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands, USGS)
live images of larva, pupa, adult plus description and foodplant (Jeremy Tatum, Butterflies and Moths of Southern Vancouver Island)
