Plagodis pulveraria Linnaeus 1758

Not of concern.

Peak flight activity in Alberta is mid May through mid June.

Coastal BC east to Newfoundland, and from Ft. Smith, NWT south to CA, SD and GA (McGuffin 1987, Wagner et al. 2001).

A mid-sized geometrid, ground colour tan heavily speckled with red-brown and a broad dark red-brown forewing median band with a straight AM border and an irregular PM border. Hindwing with dark PM line, heaviest at the anal margin. No other Alberta geometrid has a broad, evenly coloured median band like that of P. pulveraria.

Deciduous and mixedwood forest and woodlands.

Adults are active both during the day and at night, and come to lights. A fairly common moth in the central boreal region of the province. The larvae are twig mimics, and pupate prior to winter among leaves tied together with silk (McGuffin 1987).

Larvae are generalists on deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs, perhaps with a preference for the rose family; reported hosts include saskatoon (Amelanchier), choke cherry (Prunus), raspberry (Rubus), shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla), paper birch (Betula), alder (Alnus), willows (Salix), white spruce (Picea) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga).