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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Geometridae 91a1080 – 6662   Paleacrita vernata (Peck, 1795)              Spring Cankerworm

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Betulaceae Bignoniaceae Cannabaceae[Ulmaceae] Fagaceae Juglandaceae Fabaceae Linaceae Malvaceae[Tiliaceae] Oleaceae Rosaceae Salicaceae Sapindaceae Ulmaceae.  Host genera: Acer Amelanchier Betula Carya Castanea Catalpa Celtis Crataegus Cydonia Fagus Fraxinus Gleditsia Juglans Ligustrum Linum Malus Ostrya Populus Prunus Pyrus Quercus Rosa Salix Tilia Ulmus.  Notes: wide variety of broad-leaved trees and shrubs (Powell & Opler 2009); Many other trees & shrubs (Wagner et al 2001) & (Wagner 2005); polyphagous on trees and shrubs (Forbes 1948).  (Shropshire & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: vernata (Peck, 1795) (Phalaena) - MONA 1983: 6662 sericeiferata (Walker, 1863) (Anisopteryx) speciosa Hulst, 1898 (Paleacrita)

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. Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history) Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 28.36m; p. 212. 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 Block Island Moths Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at E. H. Strickland Museum Species Page at Mass Moths Species Page at iNaturalist

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