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Species Details

Archiearis infans

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

Common NameThe Infant SeasonalityAdult flight activity peaks in Alberta between mid and late April. IdentificationForewing mottled brown with a prominent white antemedian and postmedian patch at the costal margin; the AM patch sometimes extends as a band to the anal margin. Hindwing bright rust-orange with variably developed black median and marginal bands. Black patch extending from wing base to the median area below the discal cell. Sexes similar. Superficially similar to Dasyfidonia avuncularia, but the latter has two well-defined, continous black bands across the hindwing, not patchy and broken as in infans. Subspecies oregonensis, described from Port Orford, OR, is larger and lighter in colour and occurs in from southern BC southward. The hindwing dark markings are more extensive in populations from the southwest mountains of Alberta.

Scientific Name Archiearis infans Common Name The Infant Habitat Open wooded areas throughout the boreal and mountain region, associated with birch or alder. Seasonality Adult flight activity peaks in Alberta between mid and late April. Identification
Forewing mottled brown with a prominent white antemedian and postmedian patch at the costal margin; the AM patch sometimes extends as a band to the anal margin. Hindwing bright rust-orange with variably developed…
Forewing mottled brown with a prominent white antemedian and postmedian patch at the costal margin; the AM patch sometimes extends as a band to the anal margin. Hindwing bright rust-orange with variably developed black median and marginal bands. Black patch extending from wing base to the median area below the discal cell. Sexes similar. Superficially similar to Dasyfidonia avuncularia, but the latter has two well-defined, continous black bands across the hindwing, not patchy and broken as in infans. Subspecies oregonensis, described from Port Orford, OR, is larger and lighter in colour and occurs in from southern BC southward. The hindwing dark markings are more extensive in populations from the southwest mountains of Alberta.
Life History
McGuffin (1988) details the immature stages. This is one of the first non-hibernating day-flying moths to emerge in the spring, having overwintered as pupae. The early flight period is reflected in the common name;…
McGuffin (1988) details the immature stages. This is one of the first non-hibernating day-flying moths to emerge in the spring, having overwintered as pupae. The early flight period is reflected in the common name; Forbes (1948) called it the First-Born Geometer. Adults have rapid flight and are difficult to capture, but occasionally sip moist sand or mud on hot days; Song Sparrows have been observed to take advantage of this behaviour to prey on the moths (Newman & Donahue 1967).
Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info
Most reported larval hosts are in the Betulaceae, and include white birch (Betula papyrifera), dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa) and red alder (Alnus rubra). Because this species appears so early in the year, larvae of…
Most reported larval hosts are in the Betulaceae, and include white birch (Betula papyrifera), dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa) and red alder (Alnus rubra). Because this species appears so early in the year, larvae of the European sister species A. parthenias first feed on catkins before leaves are available (Kimber 1999). A few rearings from willow and trembling aspen (Prentice 1963) may be accidental. Adults mud puddle and may visit animal dung (McGuffin 1988).
Range A transcontinental boreo-montane species, found from Alaska to Newfoundland south to New York and Oregon (McGuffin 1988).

Citation

Page Citation for Archiearis infans

Page Citation

"Species Details - Archiearis infans, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3953/9-49555. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 31 specimens of this Species.

31 results plotted on map in 11 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM35812 - Archiearis infans

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Calgary Date Collected1921-04-21

UASM35813 - Archiearis infans

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBryant, Owen Date Collected1924-04-26

UASM35814 - Archiearis infans

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1925-04-19

UASM35815 - Archiearis infans

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer Collected ByWhitehouse, F. C. Date Collected1916-04-16

BIRD1519 - Archiearis infans

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-05-13

UASM59113 - Archiearis infans

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Redwater Collected ByDombroskie, J. Date Collected2006-04-13

UASM24822 - Archiearis infans

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, West Castle Ski Area Collected ByLawrie, D. Date Collected1997-05-19

UASM187683 - Archiearis infans

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Ontario, Mer Bleue Collected ByCooley, W. M. Date Collected1978-04-22

BIRD36615 - Archiearis infans

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2013-05-05

BIRD37400 - Archiearis infans

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2014-05-17

Adult Seasonal Distribution