Crocus Geometer

Xanthotype sospeta

''Xanthotype sospeta'', the crocus geometer, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It was first described by Dru Drury in 1773 from Jamaica. It is also found in North America, where it has been recorded from Nova Scotia to southern British Columbia, south to Colorado and Georgia. The habitat consists of deciduous and mixedwood forests.
Crocus Geometer - Xanthotype sospeta Xanthotype sospeta and X. urticaria are very similar species. Xanthotype sospeta is larger -- this individual had a wingspan of about 50 mm. Another difference is that Xanthotype sospeta has much less brown blotching on the wings.  Hosts: Deciduous trees and shrubs. Status: Common

**According to BugGuide, the DNA for X. sospeta and X. urticaria is identical. But, they are still considered separate species.

Habitat: Attracted to a 395 nm LED light in a semi-rural area

2020(57) Crocus geometer,Geotagged,Spring,United States,Xanthotype,Xanthotype sospeta,moth

Appearance

Upper side: antennae filiform. Head pale yellow. Eyes dark brown. Tongue spiral. Thorax, abdomen, and wings pale yellow. On the posterior edges of the anterior wings are placed two faint brown streaks; one, which is smallest, being about a quarter of an inch from the shoulders, the other the same distance from the lower corners; about the same distance from the tips, on the anterior edges, is placed another very small one. Posterior wings having likewise two of these faint spots, one on the anterior, the other on the abdominal edges.

Under side: sides, breast, and abdomen pale yellow. Legs brown and yellow. Wings pale yellow, with the same spots and marks as on the upper side, but more distinct. The wings are a little angulated. Wing-span nearly 2½ inches .
Crocus Geometer Attracted to an LED light in a rural area. Crocus Geometer,Geotagged,Moth Week 2020,Summer,United States,Xanthotype sospeta

Behavior

The larvae are feed on a wide variety of low-growing shrubs and herbs, including ''Salix'', ''Cornus'' and ''Viburnum'' species. They are twig mimics.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
FamilyGeometridae
GenusXanthotype
SpeciesX. sospeta