Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth

Description:

The Lesser Maple Spanworm (Speranza pustularia) is a moth of the Geometridae family. Adult: forewing pure white with sharp orangish-yellow to brown markings (heaviest as tops of four lines at costa); PM line usually most complete line, and continues onto hindwing; in some individuals, only the markings along the forewing costa are visible. No other pure white moth has four orangish-yellow markings along the forewing costa. PUSTULARIA: from the Latin "pustulare" (to blister); the third orangish-yellow marking along the forewing costa [representing the top of the PM line] is reminiscent of a pustule that has broken and leaked a trail of pus down the wing - not a very nice mental image, but a good way to remember this species The wingspan is 18-27 mm.

Habitat:

It is found from Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Mississippi, north to North Dakota and Saskatchewan. This one was spotted at a porch light near a southeastern deciduous forest in Edgefield County, SC.

Notes:

Adults fly from May to July in the south; June to August in the north (Quebec) Larvae feed mainly on leaves of maple (especially Red Maple [Acer rubrum]) but have also been recorded on birch, cherry, poplar, fir (Abies spp.), hemlock (Tsuga spp.), and tamarack. Hodges 6273