Large Maple Spanworm Moth - (Prochoerodes lineola)

Thanks to grand variation between individual Large Maple Spanworm Moths, it is possible to think several species are present in the same area.

Staff Writer (8/29/2017): Some Large Maple Spanworm Moths are yellow, while others are brown, dark brown, and even shades of deep purple. Some have a thin line that transverses flat forewings and abdomen, others have additional dark markings resembling a set of squashed parentheses near the head and still others lack both. Many have a small black dot on the upper half of each hindwing. This species is nocturnal and is attracted to lights at night.

Caterpillars are are brown and thin, resembling twigs. They raise one end of their bodies and stretch outward as if a part of a new branch on a tree. This camouflage affords them some protection form predators like birds and bats. Large Maple Spanworms feed on a variety of trees, including maple. Apple, oak, cheery, willow and poplar are a few. Smaller plants like geraniums, grasses, and sweet fern are also good host plants. This means that adults can be found in a variety of places including hardwood forests, parks, gardens, patios, meadows and orchards. They are active from spring through summer and are common in their vast range.

©2005-2017 www.InsectIdentification.org. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction Permitted. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from www.InsectIdentification.org is strictly prohibited. Material presented throughout this website is for entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for scientific research or medical advice (insect bites, etc...). Please consult licensed, degreed professionals for such information. Email corrections / Comments to InsectIdentification at Gmail dot com.

Details of the:
Large Maple Spanworm Moth

Category: Butterfly or Moth
Common name: Large Maple Spanworm Moth
Scientific Name: Prochoerodes lineola

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Geometridae

Genus: Prochoerodes

Species: lineola

Size (Adult, Length): 35mm to 50mm (1.38in to 1.97in)

Identifying Colors: yellow, brown, purple

Additional Descriptors: bark, lines, dot, angled, curved, hook, flying

North American Reach (Though Not Limited To*): Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Nebraska;New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin; Alberta; Manitoba; Saskatchewan; New Brunswick; Newfoundland and Labrador; Nova Scotia; Ontario; Prince Edward Island; Quebec; Mexico

* Keep in mind that an insect's reach is not limited by lines on a map and therefore may appear in areas/regions/states beyond those listed above.

BUGFINDER: What Kind of Bug is This...

BUGFINDER allows for a quick search of the Insect Identification database by selecting primary color, secondary color, number of legs and the territory / state in question. If only one color is present on your insect, select it again as its SECONDARY color. Remember that the more details you can offer, the better your chances of finding a match. As a rule of thumb, six legs are typical for most insects whereas spiders generally have eight legs.

Primary Color:

Secondary Color:

Number of Legs:

State / Province:

General Category: