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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Geometridae
91a1165 – 6829   Metarranthis lateritiaria (Guenée, [1858])
             Southern Metarranthis

© Greg Raterman
Distribution: NC to FL and LA, and possibly NJ (Schweitzer et al. 2011).Type locality: "Amérique septentrionale [North America]".
Similar Species:
  • Metarranthis Species 1 (not formally described), "Mid-Atlantic Metarranthis"; NS to NC (Schweitzer et al. 2011).
  • Metarranthis Species 2 (Metarranthis lateritiaria of authors, not Guenée, (Forbes 1948)(Rupert 1943); NS to NC (Schweitzer et al. 2011).
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • lateritiaria (Guenée, [1858]) (Endropia) - MONA 1983: 6829
      Type locality: "Amérique septentrionale [North America]".
  • Taxonomic Notes: Metarranthis lateritiaria (Guenée, [1858]): There has been much confusion with this species, pilosaria Packard, and undescribed species; the true identity may still be in question. The type locality was given only as "Amérique septentrionale [North America]" (WS: "42mm"). Forbes (1954) believed it was a northeastern species (WS: ~25-32 mm) following Rupert (1943). Schweitzer et al. (2011) believed it was a southern species and referred to the northern species as "Metarranthis Species 2" (undescribed). They also mention "Mid-Atlantic Metarranthis", "Metarranthis Species 1" (undescribed). James K. Adams (pers. comm., 2023) reports of a large, pale, early flying, wide spread Metarranthis which may refer to one of the afore mentioned. DNA barcode would seem to support the existence of at least three cryptic species.
    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.
    • Forbes, W.T.M., 1954. Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States, Part III. Noctuidae. Cornell University Agriculture Experimental Station Memoirs, 329: 94.
    • Guenée, M.A., 1857. Deltoïdes et Pyralites. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Species Général des Lépidoptères, 9: 125.
    • Rupert, L.R., 1943. A specific revision of the genus Metarranthis (Lepidoptera, Geometries, Ennomins) . Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 51(3): 146 (this Species 2, and undescribed species, in Schweitzer et al. (2011)).
    • Schweitzer, D.F., M.C. Minno, and D.L. Wagner, 2011. Rare, declining, and poorly known butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) of forests and woodlands in the eastern United States. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, p. 255, PDF.
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    Metarranthis lateritiaria
    © Hugh McGuinness
    Metarranthis lateritiaria
    © Hugh McGuinness
    Metarranthis lateritiaria
    35mm – © Jim Vargo
    Metarranthis lateritiaria
    32mm – © Jim Vargo
    Metarranthis lateritiaria
    © John G. Franclemont CUIC LG

    Metarranthis lateritiaria
    © John G. Franclemont CUIC LG


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