Biology:Lycia ursaria

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Short description: Species of moth

Lycia ursaria
Stout Spanworm Moth (Lycia ursaria) - Guelph, Ontario 2017-04-03.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Lycia
Species:
L. ursaria
Binomial name
Lycia ursaria
(Walker, 1860)
Synonyms
  • Biston ursaria Walker, 1860

Lycia ursaria, the stout spanworm moth or bear, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1860.[1] It is found in southern Canada and the northern United States, south to New Jersey and Iowa.[2]

The wingspan is about 45 mm. The forewings of the males are broad, evenly grey and heavily speckled with black. There are three black wavy lines on the wing. The hindwings are similar but are more muted in colour. The females have reduced wings and are incapable of flight. For a geometrid, this species has an unusually stout and hairy body.[3] Adults are on wing from March to June in one generation per year.

The larvae feed on the leaves of various broadleaved trees and shrubs, including Alnus, Malus, Fraxinus, Tilia, Betula, Vaccinium, Cornus, Ulmus, Crataegus, Populus and Salix.[2]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q6707281 entry