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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Geometridae 91a1333 – 6952   Pherne subpunctata (Hulst, 1898)

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DNA - cf. subpunctata - © Gary McDonald Large Map & Chart Report Errors About Maps

Distribution: vernalaria: coastal southern CA near sea level. 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: subpunctata (Hulst, 1898) (Metanema) - MONA 1983: 6952 ssp. a. subpunctata (Hulst, 1898) (Metanema); TL: California. ssp. b. vernalaria Wright, 1917 (Pherne); Holotype: San Diego, CA.

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not 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. 14 (subpunctata). Hulst, G.D., 1898. Descriptions of new genera and species of the Geometrina of North America. The Canadian Entomologist, 30(6-8): 218. Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 30.27f; p. 218. Book Review and ordering Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at iNaturalist Wright, W.S., 1917. Notes and Descriptions of Geometridae. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 25: 123-125. (P. S. vernalaria)

cf. ssp. vernalaria © Mark Dreiling cf. ssp. vernalaria © Mark Dreiling cf. ssp. vernalaria © Mark Dreiling

- LG – © Barnes & McDunnough 22mm – © McGuire Center Collection - 29mm – © Tom Dimock

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