Hemithea aestivaria

walwyn Sun, 06/16/2024 - 19:55
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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Hemithea
Species: H. aestivaria
Common Name: Common Emerald
Flight Season:  June - August

 

The moth has a forewing of 14–17 mm. Its wings are a vibrant green, though the color can fade to yellowish-green with age or light exposure. The forewings feature two distinct white lines: one near the base and another, often more jagged, closer to the outer edge. A third, fainter line may be present near the termen. The hindwings mirror this pattern but are slightly paler. The body is green with a slight white dusting, and the antennae are feathery in males, thread-like in females.

 

The species is single-brooded and generally common, though local populations may decline due to habitat loss from intensive land management or deforestation. Compared to the large emerald (Geometra papilionaria), Hemithea aestivaria is smaller and has more jagged white lines, but both share a similar vivid green hue, typical of emerald moths in the Geometridae family.

 

 

 

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