Species Pimaphera sparsaria - Hodges#6442

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Identification · Food · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References

Tiny moth, white with black markings - Pimaphera sparsaria - female

Hodges #6441 – Pimaphera percata ? - Pimaphera sparsaria - female

124 Pimaphera percata - Pimaphera sparsaria

Might it be Pimaphera percata? - Pimaphera sparsaria - male

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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 Boarmiini

Genus Pimaphera

Species sparsaria (Pimaphera sparsaria - Hodges#6442)

Hodges Number

6442

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Acidalia ? sparsaria Walker, 1862.

Boarmia psilogrammaria Zeller, 1872. Later synonymized under A. sparsaria by Hulst (1895, p. 42).

Identification

Larvae are twig mimics with numerous annulations per segment, more reminiscent of Sterrhinae species. The prothorax features a pair of dorsal thorn-like projections that bring to mind Geometrinae species. Noticeable dorsal warts on A1 - A5 and A9, closer set on A9. Crochets arranged in pairs. Setae very short. Coloration variable but head capsule appears to always be darker than ground color. Head capsule itself is comprised of two angulate lobes.

Food

Larvae recorded feeding on Woolly Buckthorn (Sideroxylon lanuginosum) in East Texas.

Remarks

Zeller (1872) described the new Geometrid "Boarmia psilogrammaria" which was later synonymized with what is now Pimaphera sparsaria. B. psilogrammaria was described from Texas, thus extending the known range of P. sparsaria from Florida to Texas. More recent information suggests that Texas and Oklahoma are the epicenter of the distribution of the species with very few records elsewhere (Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama).

See Also

Pimaphera percata, which as currently understood is confined to Arizona.

Print References

Walker, F. 1862. List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. Part 26--Geometrites (continued). (Has original description of "Acidalia ? sparsaria" on p. 1596; see BHL link below.)

Internet References

Walker's original description from Biodiversity Heritage Library.

Moth Photographers Group

Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck on 10 March, 2007 - 5:51pm
Additional contributions by Maury Heiman, Chuck Sexton, George Smiley
Last updated 6 February, 2020 - 11:50pm

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