Iridopsis clivinaria
Encyclopedia
The Mountain Mahogany Looper Moth (Iridopsis clivinaria) is a moth
of the Geometridae family. It is found from British Columbia
south to California
and east to Idaho
, Colorado
and Arizona
.
The length of the forewings is 22-25 mm. Adults have triangular forewing with a pale grey strip along the costa but medium brownish-grey in the lower and outer portions. They are on wing from March to July in one generation per year.
The larvae mainly feed on the leaves of Cercocarpus species and Purshia tridentata
, but have also been recorded on Prunus
species and Ceanothus velutinus
. Young larvae skeletonise the leaves of their host plant. They are generally greyish-brown (although there are four colour morphs: black, gray, reddish, and yellow) and mimic twigs. Larvae can be found from July to August, after which they overwinter as a pupa in the soil.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Geometridae family. It is found from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
south to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and east to Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
The length of the forewings is 22-25 mm. Adults have triangular forewing with a pale grey strip along the costa but medium brownish-grey in the lower and outer portions. They are on wing from March to July in one generation per year.
The larvae mainly feed on the leaves of Cercocarpus species and Purshia tridentata
Purshia tridentata
Purshia tridentata is a nitrogen fixing shrub in the genus Purshia, native to mountainous areas of western North America ranging from southeastern British Columbia in the north, east to Montana and south to California and New Mexico...
, but have also been recorded on Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds. There are around 430 species spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe. Many members of the genus are widely cultivated for fruit and ornament.-Botany:Members of the genus...
species and Ceanothus velutinus
Ceanothus velutinus
Ceanothus velutinus, with the common names Snowbrush Ceanothus, Red Root, and Tobacco Brush, is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae...
. Young larvae skeletonise the leaves of their host plant. They are generally greyish-brown (although there are four colour morphs: black, gray, reddish, and yellow) and mimic twigs. Larvae can be found from July to August, after which they overwinter as a pupa in the soil.
Subspecies
- Iridopsis clivinaria clivinaria
- Iridopsis clivinaria impia Rindge, 1966
- Iridopsis clivinaria profanata (Barnes & McDunnough, 1917)