Species Details

Pero honestaria

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

Common NameHonest Pero SeasonalityIn Alberta from late May to late June, with the peak flight in mid June. IdentificationThe robust body and dissimilar fore- and hindwing pattern of Pero species are more reminiscent of noctuids than geometrids. Forewing light grey-brown with a broad wavy dark brown median band and a white discal spot. Hindwing light grey with a pale bordered, slightly darker basal half and a row of small black terminal dots. Wing margins slightly serrate. Very similar to P. morrisonaria, but with less overall speckling and the median band with a less pronounced paler area near the costal margin. The outer margin of the median band is straight near the anal margin and angled more towards the body in honestaria, while morrisonaria has a tooth-like indent near the anal margin (at the anal vein). In the southern mountains in Alberta, where P. behrensaria occurs with honestaria, these two should be distinguished by genitalic morphology (see McGuffin,1987).

Scientific Name Pero honestaria Common Name Honest Pero Habitat Shrubby areas of the aspen parkland and prairies. Seasonality In Alberta from late May to late June, with the peak flight in mid June. Identification
The robust body and dissimilar fore- and hindwing pattern of Pero species are more reminiscent of noctuids than geometrids. Forewing light grey-brown with a broad wavy dark brown median band and a white discal spot.…
The robust body and dissimilar fore- and hindwing pattern of Pero species are more reminiscent of noctuids than geometrids. Forewing light grey-brown with a broad wavy dark brown median band and a white discal spot. Hindwing light grey with a pale bordered, slightly darker basal half and a row of small black terminal dots. Wing margins slightly serrate. Very similar to P. morrisonaria, but with less overall speckling and the median band with a less pronounced paler area near the costal margin. The outer margin of the median band is straight near the anal margin and angled more towards the body in honestaria, while morrisonaria has a tooth-like indent near the anal margin (at the anal vein). In the southern mountains in Alberta, where P. behrensaria occurs with honestaria, these two should be distinguished by genitalic morphology (see McGuffin,1987).
Life History The larvae, described in detail by McGuffin (1987), are light brown with brown lines and mimic twigs in colour, posture and shape. Pupae hibernate. Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info Reported larval hosts that occur in Alberta include chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) (Ferguson 1954). Range Southern interior BC east to Nova Scotia and south to FL and TX (McGuffin 1987).

Citation

Page Citation for Pero honestaria

Page Citation

"Species Details - Pero honestaria, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-4470. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Hexapoda Subclass Insecta Order Lepidoptera Suborder Ditrysia Superfamily Geometroidea Family Geometridae Subfamily Ennominae Tribe Azelinini Genus Pero Species Pero honestaria
This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Taxonomic Hierarchy for University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum