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Species Details

Spodolepis danbyi

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

Common NameDog-face Geometer SeasonalityOne of the first geometrid moths to emerge in spring, flying from mid-April to early June in Alberta IdentificationA large geometrid, the thin wings and proportionately small body gives it a "flimsy" demeanor. Ground colour light grey with black speckling, often with shades of brown along the forewing costa and apex. The jagged AM and PM lines resemble a dog's head in profile, with the white discal spot forming the eye. The extent of the forewing dark markings, including the transverse lines, can be extremely variable, resulting in well-marked, contrasting individuals to almost unmarked grey ones.

Scientific Name Spodolepis danbyi Common Name Dog-face Geometer Habitat Mixedwood and coniferous forest. Seasonality One of the first geometrid moths to emerge in spring, flying from mid-April to early June in Alberta Identification
A large geometrid, the thin wings and proportionately small body gives it a "flimsy" demeanor. Ground colour light grey with black speckling, often with shades of brown along the forewing costa and apex. The jagged AM…
A large geometrid, the thin wings and proportionately small body gives it a "flimsy" demeanor. Ground colour light grey with black speckling, often with shades of brown along the forewing costa and apex. The jagged AM and PM lines resemble a dog's head in profile, with the white discal spot forming the eye. The extent of the forewing dark markings, including the transverse lines, can be extremely variable, resulting in well-marked, contrasting individuals to almost unmarked grey ones.
Life History
McGuffin (1981) details the early stages. The mature larva (illustrated in Wagner et al. 2001) shows an intricate pattern of black and brown, resembling tree bark or a twig. As a defensive mechanism, larvae are able…
McGuffin (1981) details the early stages. The mature larva (illustrated in Wagner et al. 2001) shows an intricate pattern of black and brown, resembling tree bark or a twig. As a defensive mechanism, larvae are able to "snap" their bodies, jumping off their resting perch. The pupa overwinters in a thin cocoon in leaf litter (Hardy 1957).
Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info
Larvae have variously been reported as feeding on willows (Salix, trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga) (McGuffin 1981). In Alberta, this species has been…
Larvae have variously been reported as feeding on willows (Salix, trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga) (McGuffin 1981). In Alberta, this species has been found only in association with conifers, and is apparently absent from the aspen parkland and prairie regions.
Range Alaska, Yukon and BC east to Nova Scotia, south to New York and California (McGuffin 1981, Wagner et al. 2001).

Citation

Page Citation for Spodolepis danbyi

Page Citation

"Species Details - Spodolepis danbyi, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-4197/9-14825. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 50 specimens of this Species.

50 results plotted on map in 14 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM10104 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1927-05-21

UASM10107 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-05-09

UASM10108 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-05-10

UASM10110 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1921-06-08

UASM10113 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1927-05-24

UASM10114 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1927-05-24

UASM10118 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1927-05-21

UASM10119 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-05-09

UASM10122 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1927-05-21

UASM10124 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1935-05-20

UASM10125 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1933-05-20

UASM10126 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-05-08

UASM10127 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1919-04-26

UASM10128 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-05-08

UASM10129 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1927-05-21

UASM10130 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByMackie, Donald Date Collected1917-05-11

UASM10131 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1927-05-24

UASM10132 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByMackie, Donald Date Collected1917-05-11

UASM10133 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByMackie, Donald Date Collected1917-05-10

UASM10134 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-05-09

UASM10135 - Spodolepis danbyi

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1917-05-09

Adult Seasonal Distribution