Species Details
Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
Common NameSagebrush Girdle
SeasonalityAlberta flight dates range from late May to early August, possibly indicating two broods.
IdentificationA relatively large geometrid, with striking white and light grey forewing pattern. Median band with sinuate borders and a large white discal spot, light grey wing margin with a white subterminal line, wing fringe checkered black and white. Hindwing white with a loose band of median and subterminal speckling, more pronounced on the underside. Females slightly smaller.
The Sagebrush Girdle is similar to Caripeta species, but none of the Caripeta are pale silver-grey and white like trilinearia, and inhabit conifer forests rather than sagebrush grasslands.
Scientific Name
Plataea trilinearia
Common Name
Sagebrush Girdle
Habitat
Sagebrush flats and prairie badlands.
Seasonality
Alberta flight dates range from late May to early August, possibly indicating two broods.
Identification
A relatively large geometrid, with striking white and light grey forewing pattern. Median band with sinuate borders and a large white discal spot, light grey wing margin with a white subterminal line, wing fringe…
A relatively large geometrid, with striking white and light grey forewing pattern. Median band with sinuate borders and a large white discal spot, light grey wing margin with a white subterminal line, wing fringe checkered black and white. Hindwing white with a loose band of median and subterminal speckling, more pronounced on the underside. Females slightly smaller.
The Sagebrush Girdle is similar to Caripeta species, but none of the Caripeta are pale silver-grey and white like trilinearia, and inhabit conifer forests rather than sagebrush grasslands.
Life History
This graceful moth is one the few geometrids which are restricted to prairie habitats; the pale silver-grey colouration matches that of its surroundings of sagebrush and prairie. Except for the egg, the immature…
This graceful moth is one the few geometrids which are restricted to prairie habitats; the pale silver-grey colouration matches that of its surroundings of sagebrush and prairie. Except for the egg, the immature stages are undescribed (McGuffin 1987).
Conservation
Not of concern.
Diet Info
The larval hostplant is unconfirmed, but the sister species P. personaria feeds on Artemisia tridentata, a plant with which trilinearia is closely associated in Alberta and BC (Anderson 1923).
Range
Southern Alberta and BC south through the western US to Mexico (McGuffin 1987).
Citation
Page Citation for Plataea trilinearia
Page Citation
"Species Details - Plataea trilinearia, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-4486. Accessed 19 May. 2024.
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
Specimen Information
There are 40 specimens of this Species.
BIRD3853 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2002-06-27
BIRD3854 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2002-07-12
BIRD3855 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2003-07-12
UASM56974 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Onefour
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2004-06-23
UASM56975 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Onefour
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2004-06-23
BIRD6994 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-07-18
UASM57124 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, South Saskatchewan River
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2004-06-02
BIRD16467 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2005-06-21
BIRD16468 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2005-06-21
UASM57504 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Onefour
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2005-05-20/2005-05-21
BIRD17489 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2006-06-12
BIRD17490 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2006-06-12
BIRD17491 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2006-06-12
BIRD20547 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2007-07-04
JD2250 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Tranquille Ecological Reserve
Collected ByDombroskie, J. J.; Whitehouse, C.
Date Collected2007-06-01
JD3424 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: California, Siskiyou county, Klamath National Forest
Collected ByDombroskie, J. J. et al
Date Collected2007-07-24
UASM187570 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Tranquille Ecological Reserve
Collected ByDombroskie, J. J.; Whitehouse, C.
Date Collected2007-06-01
UASM187571 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedUnited States: California, Siskiyou county, Klamath National Forest
Collected ByDombroskie, J. J. et al
Date Collected2007-07-24
UASM187572 - Plataea trilinearia
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lost River
Collected ByTroubridge; Anweiler
Date Collected2000-06-26/2000-06-27