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Photo#539745
Geometridae: Scopula? - Scopula

Geometridae: Scopula? - Scopula
Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, USA
July 4, 2011
Size: Wingspread ~ 2 cm
I'm pretty sure that this specimen is an example of one of may be three Scopula species, but which species of Scopula I cannot tell. (My best guess is S. quinuelinearia, Hodges #7164.1 E.) I'm thinking that the image is a pretty good one, and so I'm hoping that it may be possible to determine the species from this single photograph. Thanks for any help/hints/etc.! Thanks! Back I go to stare at the archived examples from the MPG Collection. ;-)

Moved
Moved from Geometrid Moths.

Moved
Moved from Moths.

Did you look at Cabera erythemaria
- Yellow-dusted Cream Moth 6677. It is found in both the east and west parts of US.

 
Thanks, Dick!
You may be right! But I've got to think this through. I've placed one of your C. erythemaris specimens (Hodges #6677) next to this specimen. Your specimen is on the left and mine on the right (see thumb photos below).



When I look at both images, I see AM, M, and PM lines, but these seem especially pronounced and quite yellowish in color in the moth on the left. These lines seem more subtle in the moth on the right, I think. What provoked me to think the specimen on the right was in the genus Scopula was the forewing posture (i.e., forewings seem very straight or unangled to me). In addition, the specimen on the right appears to possess one or maybe two subterminal lines that don't seem evident in the species on the left. But that may be an artifact of staring at the image too long! ;-) Finally, from a 'gestalt-perspective', the moth on the right just seems to lack the characteristic yellowish tint/hue of the one on the left. But that all said, the moth on the right does lack the characteristic small, dark reniform spot that seems to be characteristic in images of Scopula, and so may be you are right about this specimen being an example of Cabera. Whew! These little white moths really are challenging! Identifying birds way less difficult. ;-)

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