Subject: Butterfly/Skipper
Geographic location of the bug: South Central Ohio
Date: 04/07/2019
Time: 02:09 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Can you identify the insect in the attached photo?
How you want your letter signed: DSC
Dear DSC,
This is a Moth, not a butterfly, despite the uncharacteristic way for this Moth to fold its wings. Often in very simplistic explanations differentiating Moths and Butterflies, it is generally stated that Butterflies rest with wings folded over their bodies while most Moths rest with wings held flat. This is a Spanworm Moth or Geometer Moth in the family Geometridae, and we quickly identified it as Kent’s Geometer, Selenia kentaria, thanks to this image posted to BugGuide. According to BugGuide: “adults mimic wilted leaves and hold wings over head at rest, while the larvae resemble twigs” and “adults fly March to August.” According to Butterflies and Moths of North America: “Caterpillar Hosts: Basswood, beeches, birches, maples, oaks, and other forest trees.“