University of Alberta Museums Search

Scientific Name Cyclophora pendulinaria Common Name Pearly-grey Wave, Sweetfern Geometer Habitat Moist or mesic forest habitats. Seasonality Mid May to mid July, most flight activity occurring in mid June Identification

A small pale grey geometrid with dotted AM and PM lines, and occasionally a suffused median line; terminal line a row of fine black spots. The discal spots are white and outlined in dark grey, unlike in any other…

A small pale grey geometrid with dotted AM and PM lines, and occasionally a suffused median line; terminal line a row of fine black spots. The discal spots are white and outlined in dark grey, unlike in any other species that might be confused with this moth.

Read More + Life History

The larva is extremely variable in colour, ranging from green to yellow, orange brown or purple-brown; when feeding, larvae usually eat leaf tissue without cutting entirely through leaf (Wagner et al. 2001). The pupa…

The larva is extremely variable in colour, ranging from green to yellow, orange brown or purple-brown; when feeding, larvae usually eat leaf tissue without cutting entirely through leaf (Wagner et al. 2001). The pupa overwinters, and adults come to light.

Read More + Conservation Not of concern Diet Info

Although the common name relates the fact that larvae feed on sweetfern (Comptonia) (Wagner et al. 2001), this plant does not occur in western Canada and larvae instead prefer alders (Alnus spp.) and birches (Betula…

Although the common name relates the fact that larvae feed on sweetfern (Comptonia) (Wagner et al. 2001), this plant does not occur in western Canada and larvae instead prefer alders (Alnus spp.) and birches (Betula spp.) (Prentice 1963).

Read More + Range Newfoundland and Labrador west to the Yukon and coastal BC, south to GA in the East (McGuffin 1967, Wagner et al. 2001).