Superfamily Geometroidea (Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths)
Family Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
Subfamily Ennominae
Tribe Macariini
Genus Macaria
Species varadaria (Speranza varadaria - Hodges#6314)
Hodges Number
6314
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Speranza was moved from tribe Semiothisini to Macariini by Ferguson (2008)(1) (p. 49)
Macaria varadaria
Macaria inaptata Walker 1861
Aspilates abbreviata Walker 1862
Numbers
50 species in the genus for North America north of Mexico(1)
Size
wing length in males is 9-12 mm and the females average slightly larger at 11-13 mm.(1)
Identification
forewing with the apex being slightly pointed and are yellow-brown to gray-brown; the bold postmedial band is nearly straight or slightly concave and has strong dark shading below that fades away to a lighter reddish-brown color towards the outer margin(1)
Range
South Carolina south to Florida and west to the central Texas coast.
Habitat
mainly a coastal species where the host plant thrives(1)
Season
adults fly year round in Florida, March to December in Texas and March to October in the remaining areas of the range(1)
The shrub Baccharis halimifolia (groundseltree) from eastern North America was introduced to Australia and has become a serious problem weed there. This moth has been introduced to Australia to hopefully help control the shrub.(1)
Print References
Ferguson, Douglas C., The Moths of North America, Fascicle 17.2, Geometroidea, Geometridae, Ennominae (part: Abaxini, Cassymini, Macariini) 2008 p. 72-75, pl. 1.58-61(1)