Rheumaptera

Hübner, 1822

Spear-marked black moths

Species Guides

Rheumaptera hastata(Spear-marked Black Moth)
Rheumaptera meadii(Barberry Geometer Moth)
Rheumaptera prunivorata(cherry scallop shell)
Rheumaptera subhastata(white-banded black moth)
Rheumaptera undulata(scallop shell)

Rheumaptera is a of geometrid moths in the Larentiinae, established by Jacob Hübner in 1822. The genus contains distributed across the Holarctic region and South America. Best-studied species include R. hastata in North America and R. mochica in South America. are typically active in summer months, with larvae feeding externally on leaves of woody plants.

Rheumaptera hastata by (c) Jennifer Aitkens, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jennifer Aitkens. Used under a CC-BY license.

Rheumaptera subhastata by (c) Mikko Heikkinen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mikko Heikkinen. Used under a CC-BY license.

Rheumaptera subhastata by no rights reserved, uploaded by Tero Linjama. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Rheumaptera: //ɹiːəˈmæptərə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

Terrestrial environments with plants; includes subarctic, , and temperate regions. R. hastata occurs in Interior Alaska among willows, birches, and alders. R. mochica inhabits western Andean slopes in southern Peru and Chile.

Distribution

Holarctic region and western South America. North American records include Alaska and Vermont. European distribution includes Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. South American distribution includes southern Peru and Chile.

Seasonality

of R. hastata emerge in late June to early July in Interior Alaska. Single per year ().

Diet

Larvae feed externally on leaves of woody plants. R. hastata larvae feed on Salix spp. (willows), Betula nana (dwarf birch), Alnus crispa (green alder), and Betula papyrifera (paper birch). R. mochica larvae feed on Senna birostris var. arequipensis (Fabaceae).

Host Associations

Salix spp. - larval willows
Betula nana - larval dwarf birch
Alnus crispa - larval green alder
Betula papyrifera - larval paper birch; preferred oviposition and feeding site for R. hastata
Senna birostris var. arequipensis - larval Fabaceae; for R. mochica

Life Cycle

(one per year). Overwinters as . Eggs laid singly or in small clusters on plant leaves. Larva progresses through five instars, feeding externally on leaves. occurs in soil or leaf litter.

Behavior

Males of R. hastata exhibit wing-fanning and when exposed to female-produced . Larvae feed externally on leaves rather than mining or boring.

Ecological Role

Herbivore; leaf-feeding larvae on woody plants in subarctic, , and temperate .

Similar Taxa

R. subhastataCo-occurs with R. hastata in North America; distinguished by and larval characteristics per identification keys
R. affirmataSister to R. mochica based on mitochondrial analysis; genitalia differs

More Details

Taxonomic history

R. mochica was described from Peru in 1904 and remained unreported for over a century until rediscovered in Chile. A lectotype was designated for the original name Calocalpe mochica. Molecular analysis shows 3.6–3.8% K2P divergence between R. mochica and R. affirmata.

Host plant quality effects

In R. hastata, larval development rate and survival decrease when fed foliage from birch trees subjected to repeated defoliation for 2–3 years. Food quality of larval plants affects female oviposition, , and viability.