Small Engrailed Moth

Description:

This Geometrid (Family Geometridae) moth has small black dentate (tooth-like) markings along 3 or 4 lines that cross the wing amount of dark banding varies from heavy to almost none, but the darkest mark on the forewing is a blackish blotch along the postmedian (PM) line near the center of the wing - distinguishing this species from Protoboarmia porecelaria (Porcelain Gray), whose darkest mark is at the costa where the PM line begins. E. crepuscularia lacks a short dark streak just below the point where the antemedian (AM) line touches the costa, and usually lacks a dark spot near the middle of the hindwing (both of these marks are present in Protoboarmia porcelaria). Larva is known as Saddleback Looper. Wingspan 30-41 mm.

Habitat:

Range is coast to coast in North America, north to the panhandle of Alaska but not Yukon or North West Territories. It also occurs throughout Eurasia. This one was photographed at a porch light at the edge of a southern deciduous forest in the midlands of South Carolina.

Notes:

Hodges#6597. Per BAMONA, this spotting is a new species record for Edgefield County, SC.