Half-Wing Geometer
|
|
The half-wing geometer is frequently found in association with cankerworms, elm spanworm, and linden looper. Its distribution is believed to be in the eastern half of North America (sourthern Canada and various States along the Atlantic coast). Hosts of this geometer are most hardwood trees, including various oaks, hickories, and red maple. |
Figure 18. – Half-wing geometer larva. |
Eggs are laid in early spring in protected locations on branches , on tree trunks, and under loose pieces of bark. The eggs hatch in April, and the larvae feed until early June. At first the larvae feed only on the leaf surface, but as they grow and develop, they feed on all leaf tissue between the major veins. A full-grown larva is about 37 mm (1.5 in) long. The head and body are cream colored with many lengthwise black, wavy lines that make the larva appear black (fig. 18). Usually by the first week in June larval feeding slows, and the larvae crawl or spin down on silken threads to the ground and begin to pupate in the soil. The adult moth is gray with black marking and has a wingspan of 37 mm (1.5 in). The female is ash gray , resembling the cankerworm, but with very small (3 mm, 0.13 in), functionless wings. The adults emerge from late March to mid-April, even in adverse weather conditions.
