Common NameColumbian EmeraldSeasonalityNo Alberta data available; June to August on the BC coast.IdentificationA mid-sized bright green geometrid with two white transverse lines. Synchlora aerata is similar, but the transverse lines are smooth in Nemoria, scalloped in Synchlora and the abdomen has white dorsal spots instead of the dorsal line of Synchlora. N. unitaria has the white hindwing PM line closer to the wing base (about halfway to the margin), while mimosaria has the line more than halfway from the wing base to the outer margin; the PM and AM are also often connected forming a U-shaped white line on the hindwing rather than two discrete lines which meet the anal margin.
Virtually identical to N. rubrifrontaria, but darwiniata is larger (forewing length >13mm) and lacks pink shading on the hindwing margin; darwiniata occurs only in the southwestern Alberta mountains, while rubrifrontaria is a north-central boreal species.
Scientific NameNemoria darwiniataCommon Name
Columbian Emerald
Habitat
Montane woodlands.
Seasonality
No Alberta data available; June to August on the BC coast.
Identification
A mid-sized bright green geometrid with two white transverse lines. Synchlora aerata is similar, but the transverse lines are smooth in Nemoria, scalloped in Synchlora and the abdomen has white dorsal spots instead…
A mid-sized bright green geometrid with two white transverse lines. Synchlora aerata is similar, but the transverse lines are smooth in Nemoria, scalloped in Synchlora and the abdomen has white dorsal spots instead of the dorsal line of Synchlora. N. unitaria has the white hindwing PM line closer to the wing base (about halfway to the margin), while mimosaria has the line more than halfway from the wing base to the outer margin; the PM and AM are also often connected forming a U-shaped white line on the hindwing rather than two discrete lines which meet the anal margin.
Virtually identical to N. rubrifrontaria, but darwiniata is larger (forewing length >13mm) and lacks pink shading on the hindwing margin; darwiniata occurs only in the southwestern Alberta mountains, while rubrifrontaria is a north-central boreal species.
Life History
Larva similar to that of other Nemoria species, with conspicuous and bizarre lateral flanges and a granulate, almost velvety integument (Ferguson 1985).
Conservation
Restricted distribution in Alberta, but no obvious concerns.
Diet Info
Larval hosts include willow and arbutus (Ferguson 1985).
Range
Southern BC and southwestern Alberta south to AZ and CA (Ferguson 1985).
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Citation
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Page Citation for Nemoria darwiniata
Page Citation
"Species Details - Nemoria darwiniata, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3778. Accessed 31 Aug. 2024.
References
AuthorFerguson, D. C
TitleGeometroidea : Geometridae (part)
Publication Date1985
Pages131
AuthorLafontaine, J. Donald and Robert W. Poole
TitleNoctuoidea : Noctuidae (part) : Plusiinae
Publication Date1995
Pages182
Specimen Information
There is 1 specimen of this Species.
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1 result plotted on map in 1 marker. Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.