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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

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

DNA - cf. subpunctata - © Gary McDonald
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) - MONA 1983: 6952; Type locality: California
  • ssp. b. vernalaria Wright 1917 (Pherne); Type locality: Holotype: San Diego, CA
  • 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. 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
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    • Wright, W.S., 1917. Notes and Descriptions of Geometridae. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 25: 123-125. (P. S. vernalaria)
    Pherne subpunctata
    cf. ssp. vernalaria © Mark Dreiling
    Pherne subpunctata
    cf. ssp. vernalaria © Mark Dreiling
    Pherne subpunctata
    cf. ssp. vernalaria © Mark Dreiling
    Pherne subpunctata
    - LG – © Barnes & McDunnough
    Pherne subpunctata
    22mm – © McGuire Center Collection
    Pherne subpunctata
    - 29mm – © Tom Dimock

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