#maple spanworm

Bug of the Day

Big gorgeous moth found on a window in Western Montana! I think they’re a maple spanworm. Taking this photo absolutely made me look like a creeper if anyone was in the office behind it, but nobody called the cops on me and I got this picture so it was 200% worth it.

Maple Spanworm (Ennomos magnaria)

Also known as the notched wing moth, the maple spanworm is a species of geometer moth that occurs throughout North America. Maple spanworms typically inhabit mixed and deciduous forests and adults are active at night. Adults will fly from July to October and larvae are active from May to August. Larvae art typically found on the leaves of alder, ash, birch, elm, maple, oak and several other trees.

Both the adults and larvae of E. magnaria are incredible mimics with adults mimicking dead leaves, by holding their wings at an angle giving the impression of a curled leaf, and larvae mimicking twigs.  

Classification

Animalia-Arthropoda-Insecta-Lepidoptera-Geometroidea-Geometridae-Ennominae-Ennomini-Ennomos-E. magnaria