Moth Photographers Group – Eucaterva variaria

Digital Guide to Moth Identification

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Geometridae

91a1398 – 6918 Eucaterva variaria Grote, 1882

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© Charles Melton	© Jim Eckert

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Distribution:	Southern CA to west TX.
Larva and Host Plants:	Desert willow, Cliilopsis linearis Sweet.
Description/ Field Marks:	Wingspan 32-36 mm; males with thorax black, forewings with visible transverse lines and discal spot (Cassino & Swett, 1922). "The males are white, thickly sprinkled with blackish, with straight outer and curved inner thick mesial lines and discal dot." (Grote, 1882).
Similar Species:	Eucaterva bonniwelli Cassino & Swett, 1922 cannot be separated with confidence at present and may not be a distinct species. DNA barcode evidence provides only weak support and it is unclear if the original description and illustration of genitalia hold up to scrutiny (Steve Nanz, pers. comm., Feb, 2023). Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:	variaria Grote, 1882 (Eucaterva) - MONA 1983: 6918 Type locality: Tucson, AZ. labesaria Grote, 1882 (Eucaterva) lymax (Druce, 1898) (Bryoptera)

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.
Cassino, S.E. & L.W. Swett, 1922. Some new geometrids. The Lepidopterist, 3(7): 148 (bonniwelli).
Comstock, J.A. & C.M. Dammers, 1932. The metamorphoses of six California Lepidoptera. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences, 31(3): 98.
Grote, A.R., 1882. Two new geometrids from Mr. Neumoegen's collection. Papilio, 2(5): 80-81.
Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 30.20m; p. 218. Book Review and ordering
Species Page at BugGuide.Net