Species Chiricahua multidentata - Hodges#6641

6641

Chiricahua multidentata (Guedet, 1941)

Amphidasis multidentata Gaudet, 1941 (1)

Biston multidentata (2)

Phylogenetic sequence #911224

Specific epithet is Latin meaning "many-toothed" for the post-medial line "composed of nine very irregular teeth pointed inwardly." (1)

Forewing length 17-18.5 mm. (2)

Wingspan 35 mm. (1)

Adult - Generally, white with a broad, gray median area with irregular margins, and with a grayish black terminal area. More specifically, Forewings white, with scattered grayish brown and blackish brown scales on both sides of dark median area; basal line black, incomplete; t. a. line black or blackish brown, arising on costa one-fourth distance from base, strongly and evenly waved, meeting inner margin beyond middle; median area appearing gray, with variable amount of white scaling, occupying entire area between cross lines, including elongate, narrow, discal dash 2 mm. in length; t.p. line arising on costa three-fourths distance from base, strongly outwardly bowed in cells, converging posteriorly toward t. a. line; terminal area broadly blackish brown, interrupted in cell M3 and along veins; fringe checkered white and blackish brown. Hind wings pale grayish white, heavily and evenly covered with gayish brown scales; without maculation except for faint trace of extradiscal line and nebulous, dark discal spot; fringe checkered white and blackish brown.

Chiricauhau Mountains of southeast Arizona. (2)

Type locality: Fly's Peak, Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona.

Thus far only known from high in the Chiricauhau mountains of Arizona above 9000ft.

Adults fly from mid-June to late July.

Ferris, C.D. 2010. A new Geometrid genus and species from Southeastern Arizona. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 64(3): 147-153.

Gaudet, E., 1941. Geometrid notes and new species (Lepidoptera). Pan-Pacific Entomologist 17(4): 191. (1)