Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Eusarca confusaria Hübner, [1813]
Numbers
one of 16 species in this genus in North America listed at
All-Leps; most species occur in the southwestern United States
confusaria is the only species of Eusarca in Canada and the northern states
Identification
Adult: wings yellowish-tan with variable grayish-brown dusting; some specimens dark brown or gray except along lines and veins; forewing PM line straight, brown, fading out or hooking inward just below apex; tiny black discal dot situated about half-way between AM and PM lines; hindwing with straight PM line and rounded outer margin [adapted from description by Charles Covell
(1)]
some individuals have dark spots in subterminal area of forewing, as seen in Janice Stiefel's photo here:
and in
this photo by Lynn Scott, but note that in both images, the forewing discal dot is about half-way between the AM and PM lines, not near the AM line as in Juniper Geometer
[compare other similar species in See also section below]
occasionally perches with wings up:
Range
TX-FL-NS-ND (plus a few outer strays) -
Map (MPG)
Season
adults fly from April to October
(1),(MPG)
Food
larvae feed on forbs, especially Asteraceae (aster, goldenrod, etc.)
See Also
Dark-edged Eusarca (
E. fundaria) is usually darker (female has yellow median area), and has a southeastern distribution, not occurring north of Maryland (
compare photos of both species by various photographers at MPG)
a number of
Eusarca species from the southwestern states are similar (see
photos of several species by Bob Belmont at MPG)
Juniper Geometer (
Patalene olyzonaria) forewing discal dot situated close to AM line, not about half-way between AM and PM lines (
compare images of both species at CBIF)
Curve-toothed Geometer (
Eutrapela clemataria) hindwing outer margin is scalloped or wavy, not rounded
Large Maple Spanworm (
Prochoerodes lineola) outer margins of wings angular (not rounded) with shallow point near middle
Rose Hooktip (
Oreta rosea) brown form has wavy or irregular PM line on hindwing, not straight (
see photo at CBIF)
species of
Oxydia have black patches in upper (not lower) subterminal area of hindwing (
see photos by Bob Belmont at MPG)
species of Synaxis and Tetracis have a straight PM line on forewing, not fading out or hooking near costa
Print References
Covell, p.371, plate 56 #6
(1)