Early Juniper Carpet Moth
Thera contractata (Packard, 1873)
Family: Geometridae
Subfamily: Larentiinae
Identification: Forewing ground color white, densely speckled with brownish-gray; basal line black, wavy; AM and PM lines enclose darker median area which is wide at costa but narrow and constricted at inner margin; subterminal line white, zigzagged or toothed, with dark shading along proximal edge; terminal line black, almost straight, interrupted by white dots along its length; fringe checkered dark and light; hindwing pale brownish-gray with small discal dot, dark terminal line, and pale checkered fringe
Wing Span: 2.3-2.5 cm
Life History:
Flight: August and September
Caterpillar Hosts: Foliage of Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) and rarely, Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera).
Adult Food:
Habitat: Sand dunes, rock outcrops and barrens containing foodplant
Range: Newfoundland to Manitoba, and adjacent northern states
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Taxonomy Notes: None.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 18, 2014
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 24, 2014