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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Geometridae
91a1035 – 6635   Vinemina opacaria (Hulst, 1881)

- cf. opacaria - © Greg Raterman
Description/
Field Marks:
According to the original descriptions, the forewing of V. opacaria has a median band straight on the inner side (see lectoptype) and catalina has "median shade instead of being gently rounded is sharply angled outwardly on the cubital vein" (see holotype under catalina). Rindge (1990) suggested that the upper wing is typically darker in catalina and the am. line usually touches or joins the median band (not so for the holotype). Based on dissection, the descriptions of maculation do not appear to be conclusive. DNA barcode does not appear to distinguish the two.
Genitalia: See Rindge (1990).
Similar Species:
  • Vinemina catalina McDunnough, 1945 is best separated by genitalia. See info under description.
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • opacaria Hulst 1881 (Cidaria) - MONA 1983: 6635; Type locality: Colorado
  • nigaria Cassino 1928 (Vinemina)
  • References
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification, and some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.
    • Hulst, G.D., 1881. Descriptions of some new species of Geometridae. Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society, 4: 27.
    • Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 28.25m; p. 210. Book Review and ordering
    • Rindge, F.H., 1990. A revision of the Melanolophiini (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 199: 1-147.
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    • Species Page at the American Museum of Natural History (lectotype)
    Vinemina opacaria
    - cf. opacaria © Jim Eckert
    Vinemina opacaria
    - cf. opacaria © Franny Geller
    Vinemina opacaria
    - cf. catalina - © JoAnne Russo
    Vinemina opacaria
    - lectotype - LG – © AMNH
    Vinemina opacaria
    - gen. - 30mm – © Jim Vargo

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