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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Geometridae 91a1038 – 6618   Melanolophia imitata (Walker, 1860)              Western Carpet

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Synonymy: imitata (Walker, 1860) (Boarmia) - MONA 1983: 6618 ssp. a. imitata (Walker, 1860) (Boarmia)  subgenericata Dyar, 1904 (Melanolophia)  subimitata Forbes, 1948 (Melanolophia) ssp. b. barbara McDunnough, 1940 (Melanolophia); Holotype: El Cielo Drive, Santa Barbara Co., CA. ssp. c. cana Rindge, 1964 (Melanolophia) Host Plants: Host familiy: Betulaceae Cornaceae Cupressaceae Pinaceae Rhamnaceae Rosaceae Salicaceae Sapindaceae.  Host genera: Abies Acer Alnus Betula Cornus Frangula Juniperus Larix Malus Picea Pinus Populus Pseudotsuga Salix Thuja Tsuga.  (Shropshire & Tallamy 2025 [accessed 6xii2025]) Similar  : Species Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)

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. McDunnough, J.H., 1940. New North American Geometridae with notes, III. The Canadian Entomologist, 72(5): 90-103. Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 28.22m; p. 210. 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 E. H. Strickland Museum Species Page at iNaturalist

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