HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

See Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

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

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12

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) » Ennominae » Angeronini » Lytrosis

Genus Lytrosis

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Identification · Range · See Also · Print References · Works Cited

Common Lytrosis - Hodges#6720 - Lytrosis unitaria - male

Common Lytrosis - Hodges #6720 (Lytrosis unitaria) - Lytrosis unitaria - male

Inchworm pretending to be a hazelnut twig - Lytrosis unitaria

Common Lytrosis - Lytrosis unitaria - 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 Ennominae

Tribe Angeronini

Genus Lytrosis

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Lytrosis Hulst, 1896

Numbers

There are 4 species in the genus. (1)

Identification

Adults: (based on maculation and color)

This visual key below is adapted from the revision by FREDERICK H. RINDGE. (1) (1971)

1. Upper surface of wings uniformly pale gray; hind tibia of male with hair pencil = permagnaria

♂

Upper surface of wings various shades of light brown, dark brown, and yellow; hind tibia of male without hair pencil = 2

2. Upper surface of forewings with both AM and PM lines clearly defined and tending to be sinuous in course, and with median area yellowish or pale ochraceous gray, contrasting with noticeably darker brown and blackish brown basal and outer areas = 3

Upper surface of forewings with both AM and PM lines tending to be relatively straight, the former tending to be weakly represented, and with median area not yellow, tending to be concolorous with basal area and only slightly paler than brown outer area = unitaria

♀

♂

3. Upper surface of forewings with basal and outer areas pale to medium brown and with median area light yellow = sinuosa

♀

♂

Upper surface of forewings with basal and outer areas dark grayish brown or blackish brown, and with median area pale ochraceous gray = heitzmanorum

♂

Note: The differences in the coloring of the wings, of the last two species listed above, (heitzmanorum & sinuosa) may not show up very well in our images, as well as images of the pinned specimens on MPG and BOLD. (Bob Biagi 2021)

Larvae:

Range

eastern NA (1)

See Also

Check out the similar moths in the genus Euchlaena.

Print References

(2)

(1)

Works Cited

1.	A revision of the moth genus Lytrosis (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) Frederick H. Rindge. 1971. American Museum Novitates, 2474: 1-21.

2.	Lytrosis (Hulst) of Louisiana Vernon Antoine Brou Jr. 2005. Southern Lepidopterists' News, 27:7.

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Maury Heiman, Randy Hardy, Robert H. Biagi
Last updated 8 July, 2021 - 6:28pm

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 © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version