Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths (Geometroidea) » Geometrid Moths (Geometridae) » Ennominae » Cassymini » Protitame » Virgin Moth - Hodges#6270 (Protitame virginalis)

Species Protitame virginalis - Virgin Moth - Hodges#6270

Classification · Hodges Number · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
white moth w brown - Protitame virginalis - male white speckled moth - Virgin Moth ? - Protitame virginalis - female white moth - Protitame virginalis - female Geometridae: Scopula - Protitame virginalis - male Geometridae: Protitame virginalis? - Protitame virginalis - male Geometridae: Protitame virginialis - Protitame virginalis - female Pennsylvania Moth for ID - Protitame virginalis Pennsylvania Moth for ID - Protitame virginalis
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Geometroidea (Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths)
Family Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
Subfamily Ennominae
Tribe Cassymini
Genus Protitame
Species virginalis (Virgin Moth - Hodges#6270)
Hodges Number
6270
Other Common Names
The Virgin
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Protitame virginalis (Hulst, 1900)
Cymatophora virginalis Hulst, 1900
Synonym
Cymatophora subalbaria Hulst, 1896
Size
Ferguson (2008) reported the forewing length. (1)
Canadian specimens
♂ 9-13 mm.
♀ 10-12 mm.
Rocky Mountain specimens
♂ 12-15 mm.
♀ 12-14 mm.
Identification
Specimen identified by DNA analysis:


Genitalia:
Range
Nova Scotia to Virgina, west to Mississippi and Lousiana.
Habitat
Mesic deciduous and mixedwood forests.
Season
Late April - August. In Canada the peak adult flight occurs throughout June.
Food
Quaking Aspen and Bigtooth Aspen - can also feed on poplars and willows.
See Also
In the White Spring Moth - Lomographa vestaliata, the hindwing outer margin is not pointed.


In the The Vestal Moth - Cabera variolaria, the hindwing outer margin is not pointed and the males have pectinate antennae.


In the Elm Spanworm Moth - Ennomos subsignaria, the forewing outer margins are pointed and the males have pectinate antennae. These often have some light-green coloring on the body, legs or wings.


In the Snowy Geometer Moth - Eugonobapta nivosaria, the hindwings are pointed.
Print References
Covell, C.V. 1984. Peterson's Field Guide to Eastern Moths. Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 346. (2)
Ferguson, D.C., 2008. The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 17.2. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation. p. 40; pl. 1, figs. 24-26. (1)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group (3)
The University of Alberta also has info.
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (4)
Works Cited
1.The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 17.2, Geometroidea, Geometridae, Ennominae.
Douglas C. Ferguson . 2008. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation.
2.Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Moths
Charles V. Covell. 1984. Houghton Mifflin Company.
3.North American Moth Photographers Group
4.BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data Systems
Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi on 6 February, 2007 - 9:32am
Additional contributions by Tony-2, Maury Heiman, Robert H. Biagi
Last updated 2 July, 2020 - 2:05pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact