Species Eupithecia miserulata - Common Eupithecia - Hodges#7474

7474

Eupithecia miserulata Grote, 1863

about 160 Eupithecia species are found in America north of Mexico.(1)

62 species in Canada

Wingspan 12-20 mm (2), (3)

Larva to about 15 mm.

Adult: grayish to grayish brown; the pattern is usually indistinct except for the prominent discal dot,with the subterminal area varying from being concolorous with the wing to light gray or orange (in early spring specimens), and with a faint darkened spot above the outer angle. The hind wings are concolorous with the forewings, and have a small discal spot and a variably represented extradiscal line. The under surface is basically similar to the upper, but with a greater degree of variation, as the maculation varies from faint to very prominent

Specimen identified by DNA analysis:

In males, the scales can be brushed off the tail, revealing the distinct 8th sternite

Larva: Caterpillar very variable in color, but usually with a pattern of diagonal lines which commonly "join over dorsum to form arrows atop first six or seven abdominal segments." (4)

Genitalia:

♀

♂

Nova Scotia to Florida(5), west to Texas(6), north to Ontario; also occurs in western United States from Arizona, and California(7) to Washington. (8), (9)

On Block Island, RI, adults fly May through November in three or more overlapping generations.(10)

Larvae feed on a wide variety of plants such as aster, clover, coneflower, hoptree, juniper, Myrica species, oak, cherry, willow. (2)

Overwinters as a pupa.

Click on an image to view the life cycle:

Caterpillar Pupa Pupa Adult

Coloration of caterpillar frequently blends with that of the food plant.

Many species of Eupithecia are similar looking and difficult to distinguish.