Racheospila-cupedinaria

Guides

• Synchlora cupedinaria

  Brown-bordered Emerald

  Synchlora cupedinaria is a small emerald moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1880. The species is restricted to the Caribbean region and extreme southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Florida, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate form and S. c. guadelupensis described by Herbulot in 1988. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 14–17 mm. Like other members of the genus Synchlora, the larvae are known for their remarkable camouflage behavior, adorning their bodies with fragments of host plant material.

  GeometridaeGeometrinaeemerald-mothcamouflaged-looperCaribbean-faunaFlorida-faunacamouflage-behaviorlarval-behaviorGrote-1880Herbulot-1988subspecies-guadelupensissmall-moth14-17-mm-wingspanRacheospila-cupedinariaBrown-bordered-Emeraldinsular-distribution