University of Alberta Museums Search

Scientific Name Cabera variolaria Common Name The Vestal Seasonality Late May to late July, peaking late June-early July. Occasional second brood in early September. Identification

A medium-size pure white geometrid with a light speckling of grey scales. Alberta specimens almost always lack the transverse bands found in other members of the genus. Most likely to be confused with Eudeilinea…

A medium-size pure white geometrid with a light speckling of grey scales. Alberta specimens almost always lack the transverse bands found in other members of the genus. Most likely to be confused with Eudeilinea herminiata (Drepanidae) and Protitame virginalis. E. herminiata lacks the dark speckling. The forelegs are orange-brown on C. variolaria, dark grey in P. virginalis.

Read More + Life History

The larva, known as the Pink-striped willow spanworm, exhibits a green form and a brown form, illustrated in Wagner et al. (2001) and Ives & Wong (1988). Eggs are laid singly below but along the edge of host leaves.…

The larva, known as the Pink-striped willow spanworm, exhibits a green form and a brown form, illustrated in Wagner et al. (2001) and Ives & Wong (1988). Eggs are laid singly below but along the edge of host leaves. Pupae hibernate (McGuffin 1988). Adults can be flushed up during the day, but also fly at night and come to lights.

Read More + Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info Larvae feed on poplars (Populus spp.) and willows (Salix spp.) (McGuffin 1981). Range Interior BC east to Newfoundland, north to the southern NWT,south to GA, NE, FL and NM (McGuffin 1981, Wagner et al. 2001).