Species Details

Horisme intestinata

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

Common NameBrown Bark Carpet IdentificationOne can do no better than quoting Lynn Scott's description of this otherwise rather drab creature: “Both the forewings and the hindwings of Horisme intestinata are largely covered with fine, gray-brown, parallel, crosswise lines, which are aligned at rest so that the moth somewhat resembles a smear of something on my brick wall. The ground color of the wings is a pale yellowish brown or tan, slightly darker towards the outer margins. The upper third of the forewing is less striped, with a plain area around the small discal dot. The deep scallops of the postmedial line are quite evident when one takes a close look, but on a quick glance, the wing simply appears streaky. In the subterminal area, there is a whitish scalloped line on both forewing and hindwing. The darkest markings are the ends of a dark lines at the inner margins of the forewings, which are aligned with a dark line across the base of the abdomen to form a darker mark across the middle of the moth at rest” (Lynn Scott, 2001-2007). Wingspan approx. 2.5-3.2 cm. The related H. incana Swett is a more two-toned light and dark brown and has a sharply defined contrasting yellow-brown stripe along the costa.

Scientific Name Horisme intestinata Common Name Brown Bark Carpet Habitat Frequents wooded areas. Identification
One can do no better than quoting Lynn Scott's description of this otherwise rather drab creature: “Both the forewings and the hindwings of Horisme intestinata are largely covered with fine, gray-brown, parallel,…
One can do no better than quoting Lynn Scott's description of this otherwise rather drab creature: “Both the forewings and the hindwings of Horisme intestinata are largely covered with fine, gray-brown, parallel, crosswise lines, which are aligned at rest so that the moth somewhat resembles a smear of something on my brick wall. The ground color of the wings is a pale yellowish brown or tan, slightly darker towards the outer margins. The upper third of the forewing is less striped, with a plain area around the small discal dot. The deep scallops of the postmedial line are quite evident when one takes a close look, but on a quick glance, the wing simply appears streaky. In the subterminal area, there is a whitish scalloped line on both forewing and hindwing. The darkest markings are the ends of a dark lines at the inner margins of the forewings, which are aligned with a dark line across the base of the abdomen to form a darker mark across the middle of the moth at rest” (Lynn Scott, 2001-2007). Wingspan approx. 2.5-3.2 cm. The related H. incana Swett is a more two-toned light and dark brown and has a sharply defined contrasting yellow-brown stripe along the costa.
Life History
Very poorly known. Adults are nocturnal and come to light. The main flight if from late May through late July, peaking in late June. A small second brood appears in early September through early October. The larva is…
Very poorly known. Adults are nocturnal and come to light. The main flight if from late May through late July, peaking in late June. A small second brood appears in early September through early October. The larva is undescribed and the larval hosts are unknown. Larvae of European species feed on Clematis.
Range Widespread throughout much of temperate North America. In Alberta it has been collected mainly in the parklands and montane areas, less commonly in wooded riparian areas in the grasslands and in the northern boreal forest. Notes
The Brown bark carpet is a drab moth, closely related to and greatly resembling a large, dark Eupithecia sp. There are 4 North American species, and others in the Palaearctic. The live specimen illustrated is from Edmonton.
The Brown bark carpet is a drab moth, closely related to and greatly resembling a large, dark Eupithecia sp. There are 4 North American species, and others in the Palaearctic. The live specimen illustrated is from Edmonton.

Citation

Page Citation for Horisme intestinata

Page Citation

"Species Details - Horisme intestinata, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6177. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Hexapoda Subclass Insecta Order Lepidoptera Suborder Ditrysia Superfamily Geometroidea Family Geometridae Subfamily Larentiinae Tribe Eupitheciini Genus Horisme Species Horisme intestinata
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