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Species Details

Probole amicaria

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

Common NameFriendly Probole SeasonalityAdults fly in Alberta late May to July, peaking in mid June. IdentificationThis smallish geometrid has a pale tan ground colour with heavy brown markings, consisting of antemedian (AM) and postmedian (PM) lines, dark marginal shading, discal spots and (usually) black marginal blotches. Probole are best recognized by the extended outward tooth-like projection of the forewing PM line. More localized and less common than P. alienaria. Virtually identical to (and previously considered to be conspecific with) P. alienaria. The distinguishing character in wing markings is the angle of the PM line above the "tooth"; it is perpendicular to the wing margin where it meets the edge in alienaria, while in amicaria the line is directed more toward the wing apex, and is essentially perpendicular to the anal (not the costal) margin. Some have treated P. alienaria and amicaria as forms of the same species (eg. McGuffin 1987). Ferguson (in Hodges 1983) treats them as separate species, and according to Handfield (1999), alienaria is a generalist feeder on deciduous shrubs while amicaria feeds only on species of dogwood (Cornus). There also appear to be differences in the male antennal structure among some populations, at least in eastern North America (Handfield 1999). This interesting situation certainly warrants further research in Alberta

Scientific Name Probole amicaria Common Name Friendly Probole Habitat Moist deciduous and mixedwood forests. Seasonality Adults fly in Alberta late May to July, peaking in mid June. Identification
This smallish geometrid has a pale tan ground colour with heavy brown markings, consisting of antemedian (AM) and postmedian (PM) lines, dark marginal shading, discal spots and (usually) black marginal blotches.…
This smallish geometrid has a pale tan ground colour with heavy brown markings, consisting of antemedian (AM) and postmedian (PM) lines, dark marginal shading, discal spots and (usually) black marginal blotches. Probole are best recognized by the extended outward tooth-like projection of the forewing PM line. More localized and less common than P. alienaria. Virtually identical to (and previously considered to be conspecific with) P. alienaria. The distinguishing character in wing markings is the angle of the PM line above the "tooth"; it is perpendicular to the wing margin where it meets the edge in alienaria, while in amicaria the line is directed more toward the wing apex, and is essentially perpendicular to the anal (not the costal) margin. Some have treated P. alienaria and amicaria as forms of the same species (eg. McGuffin 1987). Ferguson (in Hodges 1983) treats them as separate species, and according to Handfield (1999), alienaria is a generalist feeder on deciduous shrubs while amicaria feeds only on species of dogwood (Cornus). There also appear to be differences in the male antennal structure among some populations, at least in eastern North America (Handfield 1999). This interesting situation certainly warrants further research in Alberta
Life History The caterpillar is a twig or leaf petiole mimic, exhibiting green and brown forms; indistinguishable from P. alienaria larvae. The pupa overwinters (Wagner et al. 2001). Adults come to light, and are also diurnal. Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info According to Handfield (1999), larvae feed only on dogwood, particularly red osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera). Other reported host records may be referable to P. alienaria. Range BC east to Quebec (and Nova Scotia?) south to FL and TX (Wagner et al. 2001).

Citation

Page Citation for Probole amicaria

Page Citation

"Species Details - Probole amicaria, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-4568/9-56720. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 38 specimens of this Species.

38 results plotted on map in 23 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM7354 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tofield Collected BySchmidt, B. C. Date Collected2000-06-14

UASM7400 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tofield Collected BySchmidt, B. C. Date Collected2000-06-20

UASM10600 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1917-06-13

UASM10675 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1919-05-24

UASM10824 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1917-06-13

UASM10874 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-05-21

UASM24040 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edgerton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2002-06-01/2002-06-02

BIRD3736 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2000-07-28

BIRD3737 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-14

BIRD3738 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-14

BIRD3739 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-18

BIRD3740 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Buffalo Lake Provincial Recreation Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-22

BIRD3741 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Buffalo Lake Provincial Recreation Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-22

BIRD3742 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-06-08

BIRD3743 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-06-10

BIRD3744 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Big Knife Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-06-12

BIRD3745 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nevis Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-06-14

BIRD3746 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nevis Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-06-14

BIRD3747 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, J.J. Collett Natural Area Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-06-21

BIRD3748 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2002-07-10

BIRD3749 - Probole amicaria

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Arrowwood Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2003-06-27

Adult Seasonal Distribution