Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Cyclophora dataria (Hulst, 1887)
Acidalia dataria Hulst, 1887
Synonyms
Cosymbia microps Prout, 1936
Cosymbia piazzaria Wright, 1924
Identification
Adult: forewing uniformly yellowish to light brown with fine dark speckling and lines; AM line faint, median light dark, diffuse, slightly sinuate; PM line composed of several dark dots, sometimes connected by wavy line; terminal line composed of several dark dashes; discal spot hollow, filled with either ground color or white; outer margin usually falcate (concave near apex) with pointed apex
hindwing similar pattern and color (including hollow discal spot) but outer margin rounded
Larva: colors vary in intensity and contrast between light and dark markings, ranging from tan brown to gray; dark dorsal semicircle bordered by pale lateral marking on abdominal segments two to five
[adapted from description by Jeffrey Miller]
Range
British Columbia to California, east to Arizona, north to Montana
Habitat
mixed or deciduous woods containing oak
Season
adults fly in late spring and summer
larvae in July and August
Food
the larvae feed on leaves of oak (Quercus spp.)
See Also
Cyclophora nanaria has mottled wings with large diffuse patches of brown mixed with lighter areas, and occurs only in southern states (see images
1,
2,
3)
Sweetfern Geometer (
Cyclophora pendulinaria) has whitish or light gray wings, and its forewing is not falcate (
compare images of both species)
Common Tan Wave has a similar color but lacks hollow discal spots, does not occur in the west, and lacks noticeable median and AM lines
Print References
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler, 2009.
Moths of Western North America. University of California Press. pl. 31, fig. 29; p. 222.
(1)Internet References
pinned adult image plus description and flight season (Jeff Miller, Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands; USGS)
pinned adult images of specimens from Utah (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona)
live larva image plus description, food plant, seasonality (Jeffrey Miller, Caterpillars of Pacific Northwest Forests and Woodlands; USGS)
live larva image (Boris Krylov, Montana, macro-photo.org)
presence in California; list (U. of California at Berkeley)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 7 February, 2006 - 12:22pm
Additional contributions by
Maury HeimanLast updated 15 December, 2014 - 12:27am
