Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Hydrelia albifera (Walker, 1866)
Acidalia albifera Walker, 1866
Acidalia albogilvaria Morrison, 1874
Corycia triseriata Packard, 1874
Identification
forewing white with thick wavy yellow PM line, and thinner broken AM and ST lines; black discal dot on all wings; yellow bar on upper half of frons (the forehead)
hindwing color and pattern similar to forewing
Range
Throughout eastern US and Canada; possibly replaced by
Hydrelia brunneifasciata west of the Rockies
(1).
Type locality (albifera): North America.
Type locality (albogilvaria): USA: MA, NY.
Type locality (triseriata): White Mountains, NH; Beverly, MA, Andover, MA; Albany, NY.
Habitat
deciduous and mixed woodlands; adults are attracted to light
Season
adults fly from May to August
Food
larvae feed on leaves of White Birch (Betula papyrifera) and dogwood (Cornus spp.)
Life Cycle
two generations per year in some areas; one in others (e.g. Alberta)
Adults mating:
See Also
H. brunneifasciata replaces
albifera west of the Rockies
(1). Identifications should be considered tentative.
Lobocleta peralbata
For ID details, check out the forum article here:
Conflation of two white GeometridsPrint References
Morrison, H.K., 1874 (1873-1874). New North American Lepidoptera. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, 16:
194.
Packard, A.S., 1874. Descriptions of New North American Phalaenidae. Sixth Annual report of the trustees of the Peabody Academy of Science, p.
50.
Walker, F., 1866. Supplement - part 5. List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum, 35:
1625.