The soft colors of the Large Lace-Border Moth are detailed with a delicate lace-like patterned border on its wings.
Large Lace-Border Moths rest with their wings flat making it easy to admire the creamy hues of its wings. There is some variety within the species. Some individuals are mostly white with faint brown waves at the edges of the wings. Others have darker brown patterns on the edges. A few have a large black splotch on the forewings. When viewed together, they all look like they could be related, and indeed are the same species. They all have tiny black dots along the middle parts of the forewings. A yellow fringe runs along the bottom edge of all four wings.
Adults are active from late spring to early autumn. Two broods (families) can be produced each year. Caterpillars are a type of inchworm. They eat leaves on apple and black cherry trees, blueberry bushes, clover and the native wildflower called meadow-beauty.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Geometridae
Genus:Scopula
Species:limboundata
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Scopula limboundata
Category:
Butterfly or Moth
Size (Adult; Length): 20mm to 31mm (0.78in to 1.21in)
Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.
Butterfly and Moth Anatomy
1
Antennae: Butterflies and Moths have a pair of antennae on the head used as sensors.
2
Head: The head is home to the insect's eyes, antennae, and proboscis.
3
Thorax: Home to the three pairs of legs as well as vital internal organs.
4
Abdomen: Contains vital internal organs such as the heart(s) and reproduction facilities.
5
Forewing: The upper, forward wing pair used for flying.
6
Hindwing: The lower, rearward wing pair used for flying.
NOTE: Butterflies and Moths are part of the Lepidopteran order as they share many similarities.