Saturday, July 6, 2013

Inchworms: Measuring the Earth

The family name Geometridae (Geometrid Moths) refers to the way the caterpillars seem to "measure the earth." Most people know them as "inchworms." This spring, I spotted several specimens on Purple Iris. I believe they belong to the subfamily Larentiinae, tribe Eupitheciini (Pugs). Going from there, the species would probably be Eupithecia miserulata, or the Common Pug. My specimens seem to have the appropriate chevron (arrow) pattern of diagonal lines. In the South, the majority of this species will be found during the spring months.


References:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/9898
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=7474
http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/143734-Eupithecia-miserulata
http://pick4.pick.uga.edu/mp/20m?plot=2&kind=Eupithecia+miserulata
http://eol.org/pages/286107/overview

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