Common NameSingle-lined EmeraldSeasonalityPeak flight activity is from late June to mid July.IdentificationOur largest species of emerald; wings a uniform green with white AM and PM lines, wing fringe white with fine pink stripes. Abdomen green dorsally, shading to white at the terminus, three to four round white spots dorsally within green basal half of abdomen.
The Pale Beauty (Campaea perlata) is larger, greenish white, and lacks pink in the wing fringe. Other Nemoria species and their kin have the white hindwing PM line closer to the margin, more than halfway from the wing base to the outer margin; in unitaria, the PM line is halfway or less between the wing base and the margin, and is often connected to the AM line forming a U-shaped white line on the hindwing rather than two discrete lines which meet the anal margin.
Alberta populations were initially described as a separate species, Aplodes hudsonaria Taylor (TL: Red Deer R. 50 mi. NE Gleichen). Although Alberta specimens tend to be slightly larger than avergae and more often show the pink wing fringe spots, Ferguson (1985) considered hudsonaria to be conspecific with unitaria.
Scientific NameNemoria unitariaCommon Name
Single-lined Emerald
Habitat
Mixedwood and deciduous forests and woodlands.
Seasonality
Peak flight activity is from late June to mid July.
Identification
Our largest species of emerald; wings a uniform green with white AM and PM lines, wing fringe white with fine pink stripes. Abdomen green dorsally, shading to white at the terminus, three to four round white spots…
Our largest species of emerald; wings a uniform green with white AM and PM lines, wing fringe white with fine pink stripes. Abdomen green dorsally, shading to white at the terminus, three to four round white spots dorsally within green basal half of abdomen.
The Pale Beauty (Campaea perlata) is larger, greenish white, and lacks pink in the wing fringe. Other Nemoria species and their kin have the white hindwing PM line closer to the margin, more than halfway from the wing base to the outer margin; in unitaria, the PM line is halfway or less between the wing base and the margin, and is often connected to the AM line forming a U-shaped white line on the hindwing rather than two discrete lines which meet the anal margin.
Alberta populations were initially described as a separate species, Aplodes hudsonaria Taylor (TL: Red Deer R. 50 mi. NE Gleichen). Although Alberta specimens tend to be slightly larger than avergae and more often show the pink wing fringe spots, Ferguson (1985) considered hudsonaria to be conspecific with unitaria.
Life History
Very little is known of this species' biology. The immature stages are unknown. Adults are nocturnal and come to light.
Conservation
Not of concern.
Diet Info
The larval hosts are not known. Prentice (1963) reports one collection each on cedar (Thuja sp.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), but given the paucity of unitaria records from the thousands of conifer…
The larval hosts are not known. Prentice (1963) reports one collection each on cedar (Thuja sp.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), but given the paucity of unitaria records from the thousands of conifer collections of the Forest insect and Disease Survey, conifers are not likely to be usual hosts. Ferguson (1975) was able to rear larvae to maturity on gooseberry (Ribes sp.).
Range
A western species ranging from coastal BC east to Saskatchewan, south to CA and NM (McGuffin 1988).
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Citation
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Page Citation for Nemoria unitaria
Page Citation
"Species Details - Nemoria unitaria, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3781. Accessed 06 Nov. 2024.
References
AuthorPrentice, R. M.
TitleForest Lepidoptera of Canada. (1963)
Publication Date1963
Volume3
Pages281
AuthorFerguson, D. C
TitleGeometroidea : Geometridae (part)
Publication Date1985
Pages131
AuthorMcGuffin, W. C.
TitleGuide to the Geometridae of Canada (Lepidoptera): II. Subfamily Ennominae, 2.
Publication Date1977
Series TitleMemoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada
Volume101
Pages191
Specimen Information
There are 52 specimens of this Species.
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52 results plotted on map in 24 markers. Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.