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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Geometridae 91a1330 – 6949   Pherne placeraria (Guenée, [1858])

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cf. placeraria © D. L. Blumfield Large Map & Chart Report Errors About Maps

Description/ Field Marks: Ventral side of hind wing with well defined, outwardly bent transverse line (see illustration of holotype below). In describing mellitularia, Hulst (1886) referenced the 2nd of two illustrations of parallelia by Packard (1873), fig. 43 (see below. Similar Species: Caution: As of 9/22/2022, due to the historic confusion within the genus Pherne, there appears to be no way to confidently identify specimens to species based on phenotype, DNA or genitalia. Cliff Ferris has shown that genitalic differences exist but it is not clear as to which species those differences refer. Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: placeraria Guenée [1858] (Ellopia) - MONA 1983: 6949; Type locality: : California mellitularia Hulst 1886 (Tetracis)

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. Barnes, W.M. & J.H. McDunnough, 1916. Synonymic notes on North American Heterocera. Contributions to the natural history of the Lepidoptera of North America, 3(3): 188-189; pl. 15, fig. 13 (placeraria (=mellitularia)). Guenée, M.A., 1887. Uranides et Phalenites. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Species Général des Lépidoptères, 9: 132. Hulst, G.D., 1886. New species and varieties of Geometridae. Entomologica Americana, 1(11): 202. Oberthür, C., 1912. Etudes de Lépidoptérologie Comparée, 6: 353; pl. 156, fig. 1510 (type of placeraria). Packard, A.S., 1876. A monograph of the geometrid moths or Phalaenidae of the United States. Report (Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories (U.S.)), 10: 551; pl 12, fig. 42 (parallelia), 43 (mellitularia per Hulst (1886:202)). Species Page at BugGuide.Net

- (see notes above) – © A. S. Packard - LG – © Barnes & McDunnough - holotype - LG – © Charles Oberthür 32mm, NV, det. C.Ferris - LG – © Jim Vargo 35mm – © McGuire Center Collection

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