blue micro-moth - Lomographa semiclarata - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths (Geometroidea) » Geometrid Moths (Geometridae) » Ennominae » Baptini » Lomographa » Bluish Spring Moth - Hodges#6666 (Lomographa semiclarata)

Photo#921443

Copyright © 2014 Linda Graetz

blue micro-moth - Lomographa semiclarata

Mass. Audubon Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary - Princeton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA
May 11, 2014
Size: maybe 1/4"

I noticed several tiny blue "butterflies" flying on top of Brown Hill and managed to follow one until it rested. Surprised to discover it must be some kind of micro-moth and that the beautiful cerulean blue was hidden on the under-side of the wings.

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Contributed by Linda Graetz on 15 May, 2014 - 8:25pm
Last updated 15 May, 2014 - 11:01pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Charley Eiseman, 15 May, 2014 - 11:01pm

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Bluish spring moth

This appears to be the seldom-seen upperside of the bluish spring moth, Lomographa semiclarata (Geometridae).

… Terry Harrison, 15 May, 2014 - 8:54pm

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bluish spring moth

Thank you. And is it correct to add that it is a micro-moth?

… Linda Graetz, 16 May, 2014 - 9:47am

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"micro-moth"

Microlepidoptera, as I understand it, is an informal grouping that includes the more "primitive" moths, most of which are small (a good deal smaller than this moth, which if I recall correctly is substantially larger than your 1/4" estimate). Terry's excellent website, microleps.org, lists here many of the families that would be considered "true" micro-moths. Geometrids such as this one are not considered micro-moths and are actually closely related to butterflies.
Not included in Terry's list are the most micro of all micro-moths, the Nepticulidae. Here is a 2-mm example I posted last night:

… Charley Eiseman, 16 May, 2014 - 10:44am

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Thank you for the clarificati

Thank you for the clarification on Microlepidoptera and the website link. Checking my ruler (I neglected to do that first when I posted), I guess my moth was about 1/2" but not bigger.

… Linda Graetz, 16 May, 2014 - 2:44pm

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