Euchlaena johnsonaria
(Fitch, 1870)
Johnson's Euchlaena Moth
A -sized geometrid with a wingspan of approximately 32 mm. are active from May through August. The occurs across much of North America in deciduous wooded . feed on a documented range of deciduous trees and shrubs including dogwood, willow, spirea, blueberry, elm, ash, and birch.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Euchlaena johnsonaria: /juːˈklɪniə dʒɒnsəˈnɛəriə/
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Identification
Distinguished from other Euchlaena by geographic range and association with deciduous woodland . The two (johnsonaria and minoraria) may differ in size or pattern, though specific diagnostic features require examination of or authoritative .
Images
Appearance
have a wingspan of about 32 mm. The exhibits two recognized : the nominate E. j. johnsonaria and E. j. minoraria, described by Hulst in 1886.
Habitat
Deciduous wooded areas. Occupies forested environments with tree and shrub cover.
Distribution
North America. Recorded from southern coastal British Columbia east to Nova Scotia, south to New Jersey, Missouri, and Oregon. Additional records from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in Canada, and Vermont in the United States.
Seasonality
are on from May to August. period spans early summer through late summer.
Diet
feed on various deciduous trees and shrubs: Cornus (dogwood), Salix (willow), Spiraea, Vaccinium (blueberry), Ulmus (elm), Fraxinus (ash), and Betula (birch) . feeding habits are not documented.
Host Associations
- Cornus - larval dogwood
- Salix - larval willow
- Spiraea - larval
- Vaccinium - larval blueberry
- Ulmus - larval elm
- Fraxinus - larval ash
- Betula - larval birch
Life Cycle
with , , , and stages. Specific details of egg-laying, larval , sites, and stage are not documented in available sources.
Behavior
are attracted to light. activity pattern inferred from light-trapping records.
Ecological Role
function as folivores on deciduous . Specific ecological interactions beyond are not documented.
Human Relevance
No documented economic or cultural significance. Occasionally observed by citizen scientists during -lighting events and .
Similar Taxa
- Other Euchlaena species-level similarity in shape and pattern; require examination of or geographic/ context for definitive identification
- Other Geometridae in EnnominaeShared characteristics; E. johnsonaria distinguished by specific associations and documented range
More Details
Subspecies
Two recognized: Euchlaena johnsonaria johnsonaria (Fitch, 1870) and Euchlaena johnsonaria minoraria (Hulst, 1886). The latter was described by George D. Hulst in 1886.
Taxonomic History
First described by Asa Fitch in 1870. The specific epithet 'johnsonaria' presumably honors an individual named Johnson, though the etymology is not explicitly documented in available sources.