Explanation of Names
Called "The Bad-Wing" because the small hindwings are difficult to pull into position for pinning. The name of the genus also means bad wing - from the Greek "dys" (bad, difficult) + "pteron" (wing). Even the specific epithet abortivaria doesn't sound good, perhaps suggesting that various attempts or methods of pinning the wings have been aborted.
Numbers
the only species in this genus in North America
Identification
Adult: completely green, including head, thorax, abdomen, legs, and wings
forewing bluish-green, grayish-green, or bright green; costa with inward curve near apex, giving round-tipped appearance; antemedial (AM) and postmedial (PM) lines faint white, fairly straight, fading just before reaching costa; small white discal spot near middle of wing; hindwing similar color to forewing but much smaller (less than half the size of forewing)
Range
eastern North America (Quebec to Florida, west to Texas, north to Manitoba)
Habitat
Near edges, woodlands, with hostplants.
Season
Adults fly from mid-April to August.
Food
Larvae feed on grape (Vitis spp.) and Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus spp.)
Adults likely do not feed.
See Also
other green geometrids (in the subfamily
Geometrinae) do not have such a pronounced curve in the tip of the forewing, and they usually have some yellowish or brown color on the head and/or abdomen, rather than being completely green
Print References
Covell, p. 389, plate 49 #2
(1)Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - range map, photos of living and pinned adults
Larry Line (adult images and other info; Maryland)