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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Geometridae
91a1325 – 6924   Plataea californiaria Herrich-Schäffer, [1856]

© Natalie McNear - [T]
Distribution: Sonoma Co, CA south to San Luis Obispo, CA - Rindge, 1976.
Holotype (californiaria): California.
Lectotype (uncanaria): California - see Rindge, 1976: fig. 23.
Description/
Field Marks:
"This species can be recognized by the biangulate t. a. line, the white centered discal dot, by the presence of the s. t. line and by the contrastingly colored upper surface of the forewings… Similar to that of personaria in color and pattern, differing mainly as follows: forewings with t. a. line more outwardly oblique, paralleling innermarg into vein Cu1, angled posteriorly to vein Cu2, then swinging basally to middle of cubital cell; discal dot small, brownish black, round or elliptical with white scales in center; t. p. line with weak inward tooth on vein M1, meeting costa seven-eighths distance from base..."; FWL: 15-18mm - Am. Mus. Novit., 2595: 17.v
Genitalia: See Am. Mus. Novit., 2595: 1-27, figs. 20 (♂), 32 (♀).
Similar Species:
  • Plataea californiaria lacks a well developed st. line.
  • Plataea personaria.
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy: Plataea californiaria Herrich-Schäffer, [1856]
Gorytodes uncanaria Guenée, [1858]
References
  • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Some specimens shown may not be sequenced. DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness not proof of identification.
  • Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 30.23f; p. 218. Book Review and ordering
  • Rindge, F.H., 1976. A revision of the moth genus Plataea (Lepidoptera, Geometridae). American Museum of Natural History Novitates, 2595: 1-27.
  • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
Plataea californiaria
© Gary McDonald
Plataea californiaria
30mm – © Chris Grinter
Plataea californiaria
27mm – © Chris Grinter

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