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Species Details

Nemoria rubrifrontaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NameRed-fronted Emerald SeasonalityThe single Alberta record is for June 10. IdentificationA small, bright bluish-green genometrid with white transverse lines and pinkish wing fringes. Abdomen green, white apically, with two to three white spots encircled in pink.Three other similar species could occur with N. rubrifrontaria: Synchlora aerata, which has scalloped not straight transverse lines and a dorsal line along the abdomen rather than round dots; N. unitaria which does not have the abdominal spots surrounded in pink as in rubrifrontaria, and N. mimosaria which has no or at most one white abdominal spot not encircled in pink. N. darwiniata occurs only in the southwestern mountains, and is larger than rubrifrontaria (average forewing length 15mm in darwiniata and 12 mm in rubrifrontaria).
Scientific Name Nemoria rubrifrontaria Common Name Red-fronted Emerald Habitat Boreal peat bogs and heath barrens. Seasonality The single Alberta record is for June 10. Identification
A small, bright bluish-green genometrid with white transverse lines and pinkish wing fringes. Abdomen green, white apically, with two to three white spots encircled in pink.Three other similar species could occur with…
A small, bright bluish-green genometrid with white transverse lines and pinkish wing fringes. Abdomen green, white apically, with two to three white spots encircled in pink.Three other similar species could occur with N. rubrifrontaria: Synchlora aerata, which has scalloped not straight transverse lines and a dorsal line along the abdomen rather than round dots; N. unitaria which does not have the abdominal spots surrounded in pink as in rubrifrontaria, and N. mimosaria which has no or at most one white abdominal spot not encircled in pink. N. darwiniata occurs only in the southwestern mountains, and is larger than rubrifrontaria (average forewing length 15mm in darwiniata and 12 mm in rubrifrontaria).
Life History
The unique larvae have triangular lateral flanges, giving them an armoured, dinosaurian appearance (see Wagner et al. 2001). The pupa overwinters (McGuffin 1988), and adults come to light. In eastern Nort America,…
The unique larvae have triangular lateral flanges, giving them an armoured, dinosaurian appearance (see Wagner et al. 2001). The pupa overwinters (McGuffin 1988), and adults come to light. In eastern Nort America, this is a speices of bogs and barrens where Myrica (Myricaceae) grows. It should be watched for in northeastern Alberta in similar habitats.
Conservation Only one Alberta record, likely restricted to the northeast boreal region. Widespread elsewhere. Diet Info The preferred larval hosts in eastern North America are species of Myrica (Ferguson 1985). Range Northeastern Alberta (Colin-Cornwall Lake Wildland Park) east to Nova Scotia, south to NC and KS (Ferguson 1985).

Citation

Page Citation for Nemoria rubrifrontaria

Page Citation

"Species Details - Nemoria rubrifrontaria, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3779. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Hexapoda Subclass Insecta Order Lepidoptera Suborder Ditrysia Superfamily Geometroidea Family Geometridae Subfamily Geometrinae Tribe Nemoriini Genus Nemoria Species Nemoria rubrifrontaria
This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Taxonomic Hierarchy for University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum