Species Details

Selenia alciphearia

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

Common NameBrown-tipped Thorn SeasonalityA spring-flying moth, peaking throughout May. IdentificationThis large and fairly robust geometrid moth that mimics wilted leaves with its jagged, rust and brown wings. Ground colour rust-tan with brighter rust shades at the wing margins, and a pinkish white shade along the forewing costa; and with three dark brown transverse lines. Very similar to S. kentaria, but in general slightly smaller and darker rusty browns (more yellow-brown in kentaria; alciphearia has the PM line straighter on both wings (best seen on the underside). S. kentaria usually has a jagged or wavy forewing PM line with a more pronounced indentation midway, and the hindwing PM line is more irregular and slightly curved outwardly (straight or nearly so in alciphearia). Some specimens may be impossible to determine without examining the genitalia (see McGuffin, 1987).

Scientific Name Selenia alciphearia Common Name Brown-tipped Thorn Habitat Mixedwood and deciduous forests and woodlands. Seasonality A spring-flying moth, peaking throughout May. Identification
This large and fairly robust geometrid moth that mimics wilted leaves with its jagged, rust and brown wings. Ground colour rust-tan with brighter rust shades at the wing margins, and a pinkish white shade along the…
This large and fairly robust geometrid moth that mimics wilted leaves with its jagged, rust and brown wings. Ground colour rust-tan with brighter rust shades at the wing margins, and a pinkish white shade along the forewing costa; and with three dark brown transverse lines. Very similar to S. kentaria, but in general slightly smaller and darker rusty browns (more yellow-brown in kentaria; alciphearia has the PM line straighter on both wings (best seen on the underside). S. kentaria usually has a jagged or wavy forewing PM line with a more pronounced indentation midway, and the hindwing PM line is more irregular and slightly curved outwardly (straight or nearly so in alciphearia). Some specimens may be impossible to determine without examining the genitalia (see McGuffin, 1987).
Life History
The immature stages are described in detail by McGuffin (1987). Larvae are twig mimics and cannot be separated from those of S. kentaria (see Ives & Wong 1988, Wagner et al. 2001). Pupae hibernate in a cocoon…
The immature stages are described in detail by McGuffin (1987). Larvae are twig mimics and cannot be separated from those of S. kentaria (see Ives & Wong 1988, Wagner et al. 2001). Pupae hibernate in a cocoon between leaves, often on the host (McGuffin 1987).
Conservation Not of concern Diet Info Larvae feed on deciduous shrubs, particularly willows (Salix spp.) and alder (Alnus spp.), also on Ribes and paper birch (Betula papyrifera. (McGuffin 1987). Range Yukon and BC east to Labrador, south to New York and North Carolina (McGuffin 1987, Wagner et al. 2001). Found throughout the parklands and boreal forest regions in Alberta.
Selenia alciphearia
Selenia alciphearia
Selenia alciphearia

Citation

Page Citation for Selenia alciphearia

Page Citation

"Species Details - Selenia alciphearia, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-4149. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Schmidt, B. C.
Role species page author
Date 2003-12-06

References

Specimen Information

There are 83 specimens of this Species.

83 results plotted on map in 27 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM10151 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1939-04-28

UASM10152 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1946-05-09

UASM10153 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1928-05-26

UASM10155 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1928-05-26

UASM10156 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1944-04-27

UASM10157 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1917-06-16

UASM10158 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1918-06-03

UASM10159 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1918-05-14

UASM10160 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1919-05-15

UASM10161 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1928-05-26

UASM10162 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1917-05-19

UASM10163 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-05-31

UASM10164 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1929-05-11

UASM10165 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1928-05-14

UASM10166 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1919-05-17

UASM10167 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1921-05-14

UASM10168 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1946-05-24

UASM10169 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1941-05-04

UASM10170 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1932-05-05

UASM10171 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1948-05-24

UASM10172 - Selenia alciphearia

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1928-05-26

Adult Seasonal Distribution