CHECKLIST OF SASKATCHEWAN : PART 16 - GEOMETRIDS (2), (2).

RONALD R. HOOPER, Box 757, Fort Qu’Appelle, SK SOG ISO

This is a continuation of the list of Subfamily ENNOMINAE Saskatchewan geometric! moths in the This is the largest subfamily of subfamily Ennominae. The first geometrid moths in Canada. It geometric! article was published in Blue contains our largest geometrid moths Jay, volume 64, number 2. (up to 48 mm in wingspan) as well as medium-sized ones. The males Unless otherwise indicated, all the usually have a blister-like structure at species are represented in the Royal the base of the fore-wings between the Saskatchewan Museum collection in veins. In a few species the females are Regina. The species are arranged wingless, or have greatly reduced according to the website of Jim wings. Troubridge and Don Lafontaine, The Moths of Canada,8 with updates to Transcanada Orthofidonia 2006 provided to the author by Greg Orthofidonia exornata (Walker) - Pohl. This website also has colour Greenwater Provincial Park and photographs of the moths. McGuffin’s Kinistino area. (27 mm) (June 11) well-illustrated Guide to Geometridae Reported on bush cranberry. of Canada covers the portion of the Ennominae subfamily in this list.3'45 Yellow-veined Orthofidonia This reference is the source of much of Orthofidonia flavivenata (Hulst) - the information presented here but the Bainbridge (n. of Hudson Bay). Formerly preferred food plants listed are reported west to Cochrane, Ontario by primarily based on Prentice.6 The McGuffin.3 One Manitoba specimen is common names that are used are in the Wallis collection, taken at mostly according to R. J. L. Jones and Manitoba Cultural College, Winnipeg. C. V. Covell, Jr. Recent scientific name June 15, 1921, by N. Pankiw. (28-33 changes are according to M. J. mm) (May 17). Scoble.1’27 Large Sulphur Hesperumia In this article, the size and early and sulphuraria Pack. - S. Sask., n. to Key late dates of Saskatchewan specimens Lake. (28-33 mm) (June 28-Aug. 14) are given. Some of the recorded food Reported to be a general feeder. plants are mentioned. Abbreviations: s=south, n=north w=west, and e=east, Cranberry Spanworm Ematurga CNC= Canadian National Collection, amitaria (Gn.) - S. Sask., n. to Love and in Ottawa. Harlan. (24-27 mm) (June 2- July 1)

160 Blue Jay Reported on bog cranberry, Sturgeon Landing, Waskesiu area and meadowsweet and raspberry. Meadow Lake Provincial Park area, s to Roche Percee, Fort Qu’Appelle and Carpet Stenoporpia Outlook. Also in Cypress Hills. (31-33 polygrammaria (Pack.) - Spy Hill, mm) (May 29-July 7) Reported on fir, Tantallon and Stockholm. (23-29 mm) , tamarack, , and (July 5- 13) Reported on oak. aspen.

Four-barred Gray Aethalura Pine Powder intertexta (Walker) - Central Sask., n. to convergaria (Walker) - N. Sask., s. to Buffalo Narrows, s. to Douglas Park Greenbush, Prince Albert and Meadow and Harlan. (22-23 mm) (June 6-26) Lake Provincial Park. (20-25 mm) (May Reported on and birch. 29-July 15) Reported on pine.

Large Purplish Gray Powder Moth vellivolata (Hulst) (= (Walker) - Reported for Sask. by vellivolata) - Reported from central- Troubridge and Lafontaine.8 Reported eastern Sask., w. to Prince Albert; also on spruce, fir and tamarack. Roche Percee area. (30-32 mm) Reported on jack pine. Sharp-lined Powder Moth Eufidonia discospilata (Walker) - N. Sask., s. to Pale-winged Gray Iridopsis Crooked Lake, Prince Albert and Harlan ephyraria (Walker) (=Anacamptodes area. (20-23 mm) (June 11 -July 12) ephyraria) - S. Sask., n. to Reported on bog myrtle, rosemary, Deschambault Lake. (29 mm) (July 20- Labrador tea, cranberry and birch. 26) Reported on birch, alder, and . Canadian Melanolophia canadaria (Gn.) - S. Bent-lined Gray Sask., n. to Beaver Lake area and Turtle (Gn.) - S. Sask., n. to Otter Rapids- (28- Lake area. (32-33 mm) (May 17- July 1) SI mm) (May 31- Aug. 21) Reported on Reported on birch and willow. birch, alder, willow and aspen. Signate Melanolophia Melanolophia Cranberry Spanworm Anavitrinelia signataria (Walker) - S. e. Sask., n. to pampinaria (Gn.) - S. Sask., n. to Narrow Bainbridge and Candle Lake. (31-35 Hills Provincial Park, Waskesiu area mm) (May 24-June 21) Reported on and Harlan area. (27-31 mm) (June 1- birch and fir. July 30) Reported on bush cranberry, buffaloberry, birch and willow. Pepper and Salt Moth Biston betularia cognataria (Gn.) - S. Sask., n. Twilight Carpet Ectropis to Sturgeon Landing, Turtle Lake and crepuscularia (D. & S.) - S. Sask. n. to Onion Lake. (42-52 mm) (June 22-July Otter Rapids- (31-36 mm) (May 14- July 27) Reported on willow, birch, alder, 1) Reported on fir, tamarack, spruce, tamarack and aspen. willow and many other trees and shrubs. The Bear ursaria (Walker) - Central Sask, n. to Red Earth, Prince Speckled Carpet Protoboarmia Albert area and Meadow Lake procelaria (Gn.) - Central Sask., n. to Provincial Park area; s. to Regina and

64 (3). September 2006 161 Moose Jaw. (38-43 mm - males) (April Lime-tree Looper Erannis tiliaria 16- May 29) Reported on birch, willow (Harr.) - S. Sask., n. to Red Earth, and alder. Weldon area and Lloydminster area. (37-45 mm - males) (Sept. 2- Oct. 15) Reported on , birch and aspen.

Mottled Umber Erannis vancouverensis Hulst - Reported from Macklin by McGuffin.

Clouded View Lomographa semiclarata (Walker) - S. Sask., n. to Greenbush, Love and lie a la Crosse. (18-22 mm) (May 8- June 18) Reported The Bear on cherry, hawthorn and mountain ash. RSM collection, Keith Roney White Spring Moth Lomographa Rachel’s Moth Lycia rachelae (Hulst) vestaliata (Gn.) - Gainsborough, Roche - S. Sask., n. to Waskesiu area and Percee, Maryfield and Tantallon. (16-19 Meadow Lake area. (26-36 mm - mm) (June 2-14) Reported on cherry, males) (April 6- June 4) Reported on hawthorn and mountain ash. willow, buffaloberry and birch. Northern Wave Cabera One-spotted Variant Hypagyrtis exanthemata bryantaria (Taylor) - unipunctata (Haw.) - S. Sask., n. to Patterson Lake (n. e. Sask.), Hunt Falls Gronlid area. (28-35 mm) (June 2-July and Cypress Hills. (26-30 mm) (June 18) Reported on rose, Saskatoon, 14-30) Reported on willow. willow and chokecherry. Yellow-dusted Cream Moth Cabera Pine Measuring Worm Moth erythemaria Gn. - Throughout Sask. Hypagyrtis piniata (Pack.) - Central (21-28 mm) (June 1-Aug. 20) Reported Sask., n. to Nipawin area and Meadow on willow. Lake area; s. to Kamsack area and Saint Louis area. Reported on fir, The Vestal Cabera variolaria Gn. - spruce, tamarack and pine. Throughout Sask. (21-27 mm) (May 31 - Sept. 13) Reported on willow and Half Wing (Spiny Looper) Phigalea aspen. titea (Cram.) - Lestock, Fort Qu’Appelle, Regina, Moose Jaw and Buffalo Pound Dark Cabera Cabera borealis (Hulst) Provincial Park. (34-40 mm - males) - Patterson Lake (n. e. Sask.), Hunt (April 21 - May 2) Reported on elm, birch, Falls and Big River. (22-24 mm) (June oak and willow. 13-30) Reported on willow, aspen and birch. Spring Cankerworm Paleacrita vernata (Peck) - S. Sask., n. to Prince Obtuse Thorn obtusaria Albert area. (22-28 mm - males) (April (Hbn.) - S. Sask., n. to Preeceville, 4- May 30) Reported on elm, birch and Tisdale and Loon Lake. (35-40 mm) chokecherry. (May 21- July 13) Reported on touch- me-not.

162 Blue Jay Least-marked Thorn Euchlaena Greenbush and lie a la Crosse- (35-40 irraria (B. & McD.) - Crooked Lake, Fort mm) (May 15- June 21) Reported on Qu’Appelle, St. Victor, Buffalo Pound birch, elm, willow, meadowsweet and Provincial Park and Outlook. (38-41 dogwood. mm) (June 2- July 2) Reported on dogwood, meadowsweet, birch, aspen Crocus Geometer Xanthotype and oak. sospeta (Drury) - S. Sask, n. to Cumberland House and Otter Rapids. Pale-tipped Thorn Euchlaena (35-45 mm) (June 21- July 11) madusaria (Wlk.) - Throughout Sask. Reported on meadowsweet, willow and (30-38 mm) (June 19-July 24) Reported blueberry. on pine, buffaloberry and blueberry. False Crocus Geometer Xanthotype urticaria (Swett.) - S. Sask., n. to Deschambault Lake and Meadow Lake Provincial Park. (30- 35 mm) (June 21- July 10) Reported on meadowsweet, goldenrod, rose and currant.

RSM collection, Keith Roney

Johnson’s Thorn Euchlaena johnsonaria (Fitch) - S. Sask., n. to Greenbush, Fort a la Corne area and Loon Lake. (32-36 mm) (June 15-Aug. False Crocus Geometer 2) Reported on dogwood, RSM collection, Keith Roney meadowsweet, elm, birch, ash and chokecherry. Prairie Aspitates Aspitates aberrata (Hy. Edw.) - S. Sask., n. to Kamsack, Variable Thorn Euchlaena tigrinaria Fulda and Battleford. (24-35 mm) (May (Gn.) - S. Sask., n. to Cumberland 16- July 24) On dry prairie. House and La Ronge. (36-38 mm) (June 16- Aug. 9) Reported on Bog Aspitates Aspitates taylori(Butl.) buffaloberry, pine, birch, willow and - Hasbala Lake, Patterson Lake (n.e. aspen. Sask.), junction of Hwy 155 and Hwy 908, and Salt Creek (n. of Flotten Lake)- Scalloped Thorn Euchlaena effecta (27-33 mm) (June 14-July 2) In (Walker) - Tantallon. (36-40 mm) (June cranberry bogs. 25-July 3) Reported on dogwood, meadowsweet, blueberry, ash and Honest Pero honestaria chokecherry. (Walker) - S. Sask., n. to Shoal Lake and Onion Lake. (33-39 mm) (May 29- Alberta Thorn Euchlaena July 23) Reported on cherry. marginaria (Minot) - S. Sask., n. to

64 (3). September 2006 163 Morrison’s Pero Pero morrisonaria Handsome Geometer Spodolepis (Hy. Edw.) - S. Sask., n. to Sturgeon substriataria Hulst (=Epirranthis Landing and La Ronge. (32-40 mm) substriataria) - Bjorkdale and Harlan (May 27- Aug. 16) Reported on fir, area. (43 mm) (May 7) Reported on spruce, willow, tamarack, birch, pine, spruce and willow. meadowsweet and buffaloberry. Northern Petrophora Petrophora Oak Beauty Phaeoura quernaria subaequaria (Walker) - Reported for (Sm.) (=Nacrophora quernaria) - Sask. by Troubridge and Lafontaine.8 Broadview, Goodeve, Punnichy and Formerly west to Red Rock Lake, Birch Hills area. (40-45 mm) (June 25- Manitoba. Reported on bracken fern. July 11) Reported on birch, willow, oak and poplar. Dull Brown Tacparia Tacparia detersata (Gn.) - Tantallon and Sturgeon Landing (25 mm) (June 14) Reported on alder and larch.

Pale Homochlodes Homochlodes fritillaria (Gn.). - Bainbridge (n. of Hudson Bay) (26 mm) (May 17) Reported on ferns.

Brown-tipped Thorn alciphearia Walker. - N. Sask., s. to Oak Beauty Moose Mountain Provincial Park and RSM collection, Keith Honey Moose Jaw. (38-47 mm) (May 2-July 8) Reported on willow, alder and birch. Hardwick’s Geometer Animomyia hardwicki Rindge -1 mile s. of Beverley Kent’s Geometer Selenia kentaria collected by D. F. Hardwick, Aug. 22, (G. & R) - Katepwa, Fort Qu’Appelle, 1968. This is so far the only known Indian Head and Big River. (42 mm) specimen of this species. It is in CNC. (June 1) Reported on Elm.

Pale Emerald Campaea perlata Yellow-lined Thorn Metanema (Gn.) - Throughout Sask., (32-45 mm) inatomaria Gn. - Throughout Sask., (June 11 -Aug. 12) Reported on aspen, (28-38 mm) (May 31 - July 19) Reported willow and birch. on aspen, balsam poplar and willow.

Elm Spanworm Dark-banded Thorn Metanema subsignaria (Hbn.) - Roche Percee and determinata Walker - S. Sask, n. to Fort Qu’Appelle. (32-35 mm) Reported Cumberland House and Buffalo on elm, birch, ash and aspen. Narrows. (25-30 mm) (May 14- July 19) Reported on willow, aspen and ash. Notch Wing (Maple Spanworm) Ennomos magnaria Gn. - S. Sask., n. Warner’s Thorn warned to Creighton and La Ronge area. (40- cappsaria (Rup.) - Central Sask., n. to 50 mm) (July 8-Oct. 2) Reported on Kamsack and Harlan area; s. to Fort birch, aspen and maple. Qu’Appelle and Earl Grey. (30-32 mm)

164 Blue Jay (June 14-27) Reported on willow, cherry Sharp-toothed Thorn Probole and dogwood. amicaria (H.-S.) - Throughout Sask., (23-32 mm) (May 14- July 10) Reported Canadian Thorn Metarranthis duaria on birch, alder and willow. (Gn.) - S. Sask., n. to Sturgeon Landing, Otter Rapids and Clearwater River. (31- Chain-dotted Geometer Cingilia 38 mm) (May 14- July 5) Reported on catenaria (Drury) - Somme, Bainbridge chokecherry, hawthorn, meadowsweet, (n. of Hudson Bay), Red Earth and Saskatoon and rose. Sturgeon Landing. (33-42 mm) (Aug. 30- Sept. 8) Reported on spruce, fir, Common Metarranthis Metarranthis tamarack, birch, pine and aspen. mestusata (Walker) (=Metarranthis hypocharia (H. -S.) - Moose Mountain Provincial Park, Tantallon, Kamsack, Greenwater Provincial Park and Nisbet Forest. (30-34 mm) (May 31- June 25) Reported on cherry and blueberry.

Barred Umber pulveraria (L.) (=Anagoga occiduaria (Walker)) - Central Sask., n. to Bainbridge, Candle Lake, Eau Clair Lake and Harlan area; s. to Moose Mountain Provincial Park Chain-dotted Geometer and Fort Qu’Appelle. (27-35 mm) (May RSM collection, Keith Roney 15- June 27) Reported on alder, birch, spruce and willow. False Hemlock Looper Nepytia canosaria (Walker) - Central Sask., n. to Straight-lined Plagodis Plagodis Cumberland House area and Nemeiben phlogosaria (Gn.) - S. Sask., n. to Lake; s. to Fort Qu’Appelle area. (28-30 Greenwater Provincial Park, Candle mm) (Aug. 13-28) Reported on fir, Lake area and Primrose Lake area. spruce, tamarack and pine. (30-32 mm) (May 25- June 21) Reported on birch, alder and willow. Hemlock Spanworm Lambdina fiscellaria (Gn.) - Central Sask., n. to Hollow-spotted Plagodis Plagodis Sturgeon Landing and La Ronge area; alcoolaria (Gn.) - Throughout Sask. (32 s. to Fort Qu’Appelle and Buffalo Pound mm) (June 4- July 5) Reported on birch, Provincial Park; also at Wood Mountain alder and willow. Regional Park. (28-36 mm) (Aug. 26- Sept. 27) Reported on fir, spruce, Lemon Plagodis tamarack, birch, pine and aspen. H.-S. - Reported for La Ronge area by McGuffin5and Prentice.6 Curve-lined Looper Lambdina fervidaria athasaria (Walker) - Tantallon. Alien Probole Probole alienaria H.- (32 mm) (June 14) Reported on maple S. - Central Sask., n. to Sturgeon and birch. Landing; s. to Tantallon and Earl Gray. (23-28 mm) (June 11- July 14).

64 (3). September 2006 165 Straw Besma Besma endropiaria Oblique Thorn Tetrads cachexiata (G.&R) - N. Sask., s. to Candle Lake Gn. - S. Sask., n. to Ruby Lake and area. (31-33 mm) (July 4) Reported on Saskatoon area. (35-45 mm) (May 29- birch. July 7) Reported on alder, willow, birch and tamarack. Oak Besma Besma quercivoraria (Gn.) - N. Sask., s. to Moose Mountain Yellow Slant-line Tetrads croccalata Provincial Park and Harlan area. (31- Gn. - S. Sask., n. to Cumberland House, 34 mm) (May 31- July 8) Reported on and Narrow Hills Provincial Park. (35- birch and willow. 41 mm) (May 31- July 18) Reported on willow and alder. Canary Thorn Neoterpes triangulifera (Pack.) - Milliken Lake (on Large Maple Spanworm a rock outcrop) (specimen in CNC) Prochoerodes lineola (Goeze) (=P. Reported on gooseberry and currant. transversata (Drury)) - S. Sask., n. to Shoal Lake, Red Earth, Waskesiu area Pink-bordered Yellow Sicya and Meadow Lake Provincial Park. (39- macularia (Harr.) - S. Sask., n. to Otter 43 mm) (July 15- Sept.4) Reported on Rapids. (30-33 mm) (July 3- Aug. 17) aspen, fir, birch, willow, poplar and Reported on aspen, willow and alder. maple.

Sage-brush Girdle Plataea trilinearia Variable Antepione Antepione (Pack.) - S.w. Sask., e. to Roche Percee; thisoaria (Gn.) - Maryfield, Moose n. to Estevan, Buffalo Pound Provincial Mountain, Tantallon and Fort Park, Outlook and Tramping Lake Qu’Appelle. (33-38 mm) (May 25- June Regional Park. (30-34 mm) (May 27- 25) Reported on alder and maple. July 19) Flies among sagebrush. Curve-toothed Geometer Eutrapela Twin-spot Girdle Caripeta divisata demataria (J. E. Smith) - E. Sask., n. to Walker - Central Sask., n. to Montreal Sturgeon Landing, w. to Turtleford area. Lake area; s. to Weyburn area. (29-35 (39-50 mm) (May 25- June 27) Reported mm) (June 25- July 9) Reported on on dogwood, cherry, willow and bog spruce, fir and tamarack. myrtle.

Oblique Girdle Caripeta angustiorata Confused Eusarca Eusarca Walker) - N. Sask., s. to Weyburn area. confusaria Hbn. - Roche Percee and (30-36 mm) (June 24- July 17) Crooked Lake. (34 mm) (June 26) Reported on pine and spruce. Reported on aster, dandelion, goldenrod and clover. Northern Pine Looper Caripeta piniata (Pack.) - Reported for Snowy Geometer Eugonobapta Moosomin area and Regina area. nivosaria (Gn.) - Fort Qu’Appelle. (27- Reported on pine and spruce. 29 mm) (July 3- 31) Reported on dogwood and chokecherry. October Thorn Synaxis jubararia (Hulst) - S. Sask., n. to Norquay, Bordered Thorn (Horned Saskatoon and Harlan area. (38-47 Spanworm) Nematocampa resistaria mm) (Aug. 4-Sept. 26) Reported on (H.-S.) (=N. limbata (Haw.)) - S. Sask., willow, alder, birch and aspen. n. to Otter Rapids. (19-26 mm) (June

166 Blue Jay 26-Aug. 20) Reported on fir, willow, 3. MCGUFFIN, W.C., 1977. Guide to the Geometridae of Canada II Subfamily Ennominae spruce, birch and tamarack. 2. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada No. 101. (Well illustrated). EXPECTED SPECIES 4. MCGUFFIN, W. C., 1981. Guide to the Geometridae of Canada II Subfamily Ennominae Small Purplish Gray Iridopsis 3. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of humaria (Gn.) (=Anacamptodes Canada No. 117. (Well illustrated). humaria) - Eastern Canada, west to Fort McMurray, Alberta. 5. MCGUFFIN, W. C., 1987. Guide to the Geometridae of Canada II Subfamily Ennominae 4. Memoirs of the Entomological ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Society of Canada No. 138. (Well illustrated). I thank Klaus Bolte of Ottawa for checking the identification of most of 6. PRENTICE, R.M. 1963. Forest of Canada: Recorded by the Forest Survey. our Geometrid species. I also thank Vol. 3. Canada Department of Forestry, Ottawa, Greg Pohl of Edmonton for checking Ontario. this manuscript and giving helpful 7. SCROBLE, M J., (Ed.) 1999. A Taxonomic suggestions. Catalogue to the Geometridae of the World. 2 Vols., CSIRO Publications, Melbourne. 1. COVELL, C. V., Jr., 1984- A Field Guide to the Moths of Eastern North America. Houghton Mifflin 8. TROUBRIDGE, J. and LAFONTAINE, D., The Co., Boston. (Well illustrated) Moths of Canada, 2003, website: http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/misc _moths/ 2. JONES, R. J. L., 1951. An Annotated Checklist phps/mothindex_ e.php of the Macrolepidoptera of British Columbia. Occasional Paper No.1, Entomological Society of British Columbia.

“The sight of a large and conspicuous plasmodium can sometimes excite people who are not familiar with myxomycetes [slime molds]. An unusually spectacular mass appearance of the plasmodia of Fuligo septica in a suburb of Dallas, Texas, even made the news nationwide in the United States in 1973. The plasmodia of F. septica are usually bright yellow and often spread over large areas. The sudden, unexplained appearance of these ‘pulsating yellow blobs’ in lawns and other similar situations caused a virtual panic among some of the local inhabitants. The blobs broke apart when blasted with water, but the pieces continued to crawl about and increase in size.” Steven L. Stephenson and Henry Stempen, 2000, Myxomycetes, A Handbook of Slime Molds, p.67.

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