Observation date: July 19, 2025
Submitted by: Kansasbirder
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: If the suggested ID is right, is this a first state record? Edit: I've been told that the False Crocus Geometer and the Crocus Geometer are undistinguishable outside a dissection?
Status: Resident
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: October 20, 2025
Coordinator notes: In much of the eastern US, this could be, as you suggest, either X. urticaria or X. sospeta. From the photo alone, it's unclear which, and I agree that it might well be impossible to determine which one without dissection. That said, X. sospeta (Crocus Geometer) is definitely found in Kansas, while I have yet to find a record of X. urtica (the False Crocus Geometer) in the state. Since I made this identification, however, it's been pointed out that earlier records distinguishing between X. sospeta and urtica are unreliable and that the two species really can't be identified except via dissection. So instead I'm going to ID this just to the genus level.
