Pale Beauty (Campaea perlata)
Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Pale Beauty.
Updated: 9/18/2017; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org
Pale Beauty
An pearly moth, the Pale Beauty has sculpted hindwings, misty green hues and a range that allows most North Americans to glimpse it.
Palest shades of green veil the wings and body of the Pale Beauty. Though individuals often vary is depth of color, females are generally larger than males. Two prominent lines cross the wings. The shorter line is near the head and its outer edges bend toward the moth's face. A darker, mossy green underlines it. The longer line crosses the lower half of all four wings with a similar dark, mossy green line above it. This species is found as far north as the Arctic, though it spends only a few weeks in the summer in that colder region. In the warmer, southern region, it is active from late spring through early autumn.
Females lay a clutch of round, yellow eggs that become red over a few days. Larvae are mimics of twigs and branches. Their slender bodies stretch along tree branches and forms little loops as they inch their way around a tree. A mottled brown coloring aids in camouflaging them, and small hairs fringe the bottom edges of their bodies. These caterpillars feed on the leaves of various deciduous trees like alder, ash, beech, birch, elm, oak, poplar, and willow. Each year, one or two broods can be produced.
The Pale Beauty can be found where host trees are growing such as forests and woodlands in wilderness as well as more developed areas.
