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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/2-4470/9-55974. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
References
Author
McGuffin, W. C.
Title
Guide to the Geometridae of Canada (Lepidoptera): II. Subfamily Ennominae, 4
Publication Date
1987
Series Title
Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada
Volume
138
Pages
182
Author
Ferguson, D. C.
Title
The Lepidoptera of Nova Scotia
Publication Date
1954
Series Title
Proceedings of the Nova Scotian Institute of Science
Volume
23
Pages
375; map
Specimen Information
There are 30 specimens of this Species.
UASM41789 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Breed Creek
Collected ByPohl, G. R.
Date Collected1996-06-14
UASM41790 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected1999-06-15
UASM10001 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByMackie, Donald
Date Collected1918-06-10
UASM10022 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByMackie, Donald
Date Collected1917-06-30
UASM10004 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1919-05-25
UASM10014 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1919-06-19
UASM10015 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1919-05-27
UASM10016 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1919-05-25
UASM10017 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1929-05-29
UASM10023 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1919-06-18
UASM10024 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1919-06-15
UASM10012 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1924-06-03
UASM10013 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1918-06-22
UASM10019 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1918-06-17
UASM10021 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1915-05-29
UASM10025 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1918-06-12
UASM10020 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1917-06-16
UASM10033 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1921-06-24
UASM10048 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1919-06-16
UASM10003 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer
Collected ByWhitehouse, F. C.
Date Collected1916-06-28
UASM10007 - Pero honestaria
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer
Collected ByCrosby, G. C. S.
Date Collected1923-06-15