Common NameCrocus GeometerSeasonalityFlies in June and July, with Peak activity in early July.IdentificationA bright yellow geometrid, with the PM band of reduced to a few maroon-brown spots. The AM band is usually only present as a brown spot at the forewing costa; variable maroon speckling overall. Difficult to separate reliably from X. sospeta without genitalic dissection, see McGuffin (1981). Sospeta is slightly larger and paler yellow than urticaria, with narrower and relatively smaller maroon markings.
Scientific NameXanthotype sospetaCommon Name
Crocus Geometer
Habitat
Deciduous and mixedwood forest.
Seasonality
Flies in June and July, with Peak activity in early July.
Identification
A bright yellow geometrid, with the PM band of reduced to a few maroon-brown spots. The AM band is usually only present as a brown spot at the forewing costa; variable maroon speckling overall. Difficult to separate…
A bright yellow geometrid, with the PM band of reduced to a few maroon-brown spots. The AM band is usually only present as a brown spot at the forewing costa; variable maroon speckling overall. Difficult to separate reliably from X. sospeta without genitalic dissection, see McGuffin (1981). Sospeta is slightly larger and paler yellow than urticaria, with narrower and relatively smaller maroon markings.
Life History
Adults are nocturnal and come to lights, but are also active during the day and are easily flushed from shrubs in aspen forest understory. Females are capable of laying over 800 eggs (McGuffin 1981). Larvae are twig…
Adults are nocturnal and come to lights, but are also active during the day and are easily flushed from shrubs in aspen forest understory. Females are capable of laying over 800 eggs (McGuffin 1981). Larvae are twig mimics and rest with their body fully extended, like a twig on a branch, and feign death when disturbed (Wagner et al. 2001). In Alberta, this species is the more common of the two Xanthotype species.
Conservation
Not of concern.
Diet Info
Larvae are generalists on a low growing shrubs and herbs, including Salix, Cornus and Viburnum (McGuffin 1981).
Range
Nova Scotia to southern interior BC, south to CO and GA (McGuffin 1981).
Citation
Page Citation for Xanthotype sospeta
Page Citation
"Xanthotype sospeta, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-4305. Accessed 21 May. 2022.