Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Oak Leaftier Moth

This appears to be an Oak Leaftier Moth (Acleris semipurpurana). The species can vary greatly in appearance from one individual to the next. Some are yellow with a large brown blotch in the middle of the dorsal surface, while others are mostly yellow. There is one very similar species, Blueberry Leaftier (Acleris curvalana). According to the account on BugGuide, the best way to distinguish the two in the field is proximity to potential host plants. This moth was resting directly underneath a Pin Oak, with no blueberry plants nearby.