Paleacrita vernata

Paleacrita vernata, the spring cankerworm, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by William Dandridge Peck in 1795. It is found in North America from the Atlantic Ocean west to Alberta, Texas and California.

Paleacrita vernata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Paleacrita
Species:
P. vernata
Binomial name
Paleacrita vernata
(Peck, 1795)[1]
Synonyms
  • Phalaena vernata Peck 1795
  • Paleacrita speciosa Hulst, 1898
  • Anisopteryx sericeiferata Walker, 1862
  • Paleacrita sericeiferata
  • Paleacrita autumnata Packard, 1876

The length of the forewings is 11–18 mm for males. The females are wingless. Adult males are on wing from February to late May.[2]

The larvae feed on various deciduous trees and shrubs, but especially Acer, Ulmus, Betula and Prunus species.[3] Oaks (Quercus) are also affected, and many homeowners place sticky bands around trunks of their trees to trap the migrating adults as they climb the tree to lay eggs. The eggs hatch, turning into numerous inch-long worms that can defoliate and kill a tree. The worms often fall from the canopy onto passersby. Usually they are suspended by a line of silk that they can climb back into the tree along, should a spring wind dislodge them from their meal of leaves.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from Latin vernus, "spring (attributive)".

gollark: Dragons with `Wyrm` in their name - not their breed name, their name - should count.
gollark: _pets with whatever ridiculously strong gloves are used to handle magmas and stuff_
gollark: I'm going to bed soonish. If the hatchery explodes, please ping me.
gollark: I'll AR it for you if you want.
gollark: Yes, but zyus are stupid.

References
  1. Savela, Markku. "Paleacrita vernata (Peck, 1795)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  2. DiTerlizzi, Tony (December 3, 2013). "Species Paleacrita vernata - Spring Cankerworm Moth - Hodges#6662". BugGuide. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  3. "Species Page - Paleacrita vernata". Entomology Collection. University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved February 4, 2019.


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