gem moth

(Orthonama obstipata)

gem moth
Photo by Mike Poeppe
  Hodges #

7414

 
 
Conservation Status
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
 
Description
 
 

Gem moth is a common and widespread carpet moth. It occurs worldwide but is most common in Europe and North America. In the United States it occurs east of the Great Plains and West of the Rocky Mountains but is mostly absent in between. It is common in Minnesota. it is found in a wide variety of open and forested areas.

Adults are small, with a wingspan of just to (15 to 23 mm).

Male forewings are light brown to pale tan with a pattern of closely spaced, wavy, whitish and brownish lines. There is a blackish, broad but broken band across the median area. The postmedial line is dark and curves distinctly inward near the leading edge of the forewing (costal margin). The discal spot is blackish with a ghostly pale outline that may be indistinct or missing. There is an oblique, blackish dash in the apical area of each forewing. The hindwing is similarly marked with wavy lines and a blackish median band.

The female is darker, reddish brown, with a less distinct wavy pattern, an unbroken median band, rows of small white spots, and a black discal spot boldly outlined with white.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Wingspan: to (15 to 23 mm)

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

A wide variety of open and forested areas

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

Two or more generations per year

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

Adults do not survive the cold temperatures of winter, and larvae do not overwinter. Minnesota is recolonized every spring by individuals migrating from farther south.

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

A wide variety of herbaceous plants

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

21, 24, 29, 30, 71, 75, 82.

 
  6/9/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common and widespread

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Geometroidea (geometrid and swallowtail moths)  
 

Family

Geometridae (geometer moths)  
 

Subfamily

Larentiinae (carpet moths)  
 

Tribe

Xanthorhoini  
 

Genus

Orthonama  
       
 

Females and males differ in their wing markings. There is also some genetic (phenotypic) variation, where a trait may be expressed in one generation but not the next. For these reasons, this moth was described as a new species many times by many different authors between 1794 and 1908.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Camptogramma baccata

Camptogramma exagitata

Camptogramma signataria

Cidaria peracutata

Cidaria plemyrata

Coremia obruptata

Coremia pigrata

Geometra fluviata

Geometra fuviatalapsus

Geometra gemmata

Larentia gemmaria

Larentia quaerendaria

Nycterocea brunneipennis

Nycterocea obstipatalapsus

Nycterosea obstipata

Ochyria discata

Ochyria inconspicua

Orthonama albicinctata

Orthonama alternata

Orthonama angustata

Orthonama baccata

Orthonama brunneipennis

Orthonama exagitata

Orthonama fluviata

Orthonama gemmaria

Orthonama gemmata

Orthonama intrusata

Orthonama lapillata

Orthonama marginata

Orthonama mortuaria

Orthonama obruptata

Orthonama obsoleta

Orthonama obstipatumlapsus

Orthonama olivacea

Orthonama peracutata

Orthonama pigrata

Orthonama signataria

Phalaena albicinctata

Phalaena angustata

Phalaena obstipata

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

gem moth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Costal margin

The leading edge of the forewing of insects.

 

Postmedial (PM) line

A thin line separating the median area and the postmedial area of the forewing of Lepidoptera.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Mike Poeppe

 
    gem moth   gem moth  
           
 
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Other Videos
 
  The Gem Moth (Geometridae: Orthonama obstipata) Female on Wall
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Jul 22, 2010

Photographed near Fisher, Minnesota (21 July 2010). Thank you to Maury J. Heiman (@ Bugguide.net) for determining the identity and sex of this specimen!

 
  The Gem Moth (Geometridae: Orthonama obstipata) Dorsal View
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Oct 13, 2011

Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (09 October 2011). Thank you to Dick Wilson (@Bugguide.net) for confirming the identity of this specimen!

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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  Mike Poeppe
6/5/2022

Location: just west of Houston, MN

gem moth

 
           
 
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Created: 6/9/2022

Last Updated:

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