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Red Twin Spot Moth - Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Family Geometridae -- arpenteuses, cankerworms, chenilles
arpenteuses, chenilles géométrales, geometers, géomètres, measuringworms
Also commonly called "dark barred twin spot carpet" moth.
Live adult moth, Hodges #7388 photographed at Winfield, Illinois, USA. |
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"Xanthorhoe ferrugata has light gray
to light grayish tan forewings, with many cross
lines and bands of color in a pattern
characteristic of many of the Larentiinae
or so-called carpet moths (so called, I suspect,
because the pattern of lines and bands is
reminiscent of the border patterns of some
oriental carpets). It can be distinguished from
other similar species by its relatively wide
dark reddish brown or black median area, and the
double blackish spot in the subterminal area
below the apical patch. The dark reddish brown
median is characteristic of the type, which I
seldom see; most of the specimens at my location
are the form with the black median. The basal
area is usually reddish brown, often with a
fairly wide band of orange-brown bounded at the
outer edge by a double whitish line preceding
the black median area. The outer edge of the
median is bounded by a moderately wavy double
whitish or white and orange-brown line. The
apical patch is usually brownish and somewhat
diffuse. The double black spot in the
subterminal area may also be somewhat diffuse,
but is invariably present. A similar pattern of
cross-lines is present on the pale hindwing, but
much fainter and without the bands of color.
Covell (1984) indicates a wingspan of 1.8 to 2.5
cm.
According to Handfield (1999) and Covell, the
larvae of Xanthorhoe ferrugata feed on a
variety of low plants, including chickweed,
ground ivy, knotweed, smartweed and others.
Handfield indicates two generations per year for
my general area, with adult flight seasons from
early May into the second half of June, and from
about the beginning of July to early September."
-- From
Lynn Scott's Lepidoptera Images |
This geometrid has some of the best "tree bark" camouflage
I've ever seen.
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