Page 502 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Geometridae
United States, southern Canada, Iceland, Europe into
United States, southern Canada, Iceland, Europe into
DIS
DISTRIBUTION
TRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION Unite d States , souther n Can ada, Iceland, Eur ope into
weste
western Russia, much of Africa, the Middle East to Iran,
western Russia, much of Africa, the Middle East to Iran,
a, the M
Afric
iddle E
an,
ast to Ir
n R
r
ussia
f
, much o
and northern India
and northern India
and n orther n In dia
oodl
ands
W
Woodlands, scrub, parks, and gardens
s
, park
ub
rdens
, scr
, and ga
HABITAT
HABITAT
HABIT A T Woodlands, scrub, parks, and gardens
Various, including Chrysanthemum spp., Polygonum spp.,
V
, inc
ario
us
luding
HOST PLANTS
HOS T PLANT S Various, including
HOST PLANTS
ock and sorrel (
and dock and sorrel (Rumex spp.)
and d
and dock and sorrel (
ell-
Well-camou aged, twiglike caterpillar that has a wide distribution
W
camou
NOTE
NOTE Well-camou aged, twiglike caterpillar that has a wide distribution aged, twiglike caterpillar that has a wide distribution
NO
TE
valuated
Not e
Not evaluated
CONSERV
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated
CONSERVATION STATUS
A
TION S
A
T
TUS
ADULT WINGSPAN
⁄ –⅞ in (15–22 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
¾–1 in (20–25 mm)
ORTHONAMA OBSTIPATA
GEM
500
(FABRICIUS, 1794)
The caterpillars of the Gem moth, also known as the
Bent-line Carpet Moth, hatch from yellow, slightly elongated
eggs laid singly or in small groups on the underside of leaves of
low-growing plants. The larvae, which rest during the day and
become active at night, are polyphagous, feeding on a wide
Actual size
variety of food plants while protected by their twiglike
camou age. They pupate in a cocoon in the soil.

The night- ying adult moths are seen from April to November,
but in the more tropical parts of its range Orthonama obstipata is
on the wing all year round. The species is sexually dimorphic,
with the females larger and darker than the males and lacking
their white lines. Being a strong flier, the moth appears as a
migrant over a large area, even ying across sizeable stretches

of water. Due to its wide range and variable appearance, the
species has been described multiple times by di erent authors

and hence has around 40 synonyms.
The Gem caterpillar has a slender body in
shades of brown or green. The markings,
including faint dorsal and lateral brown lines
running the length of the body and rings of
pale brown, give the appearance of a twig.
The spiracles are dark brown to black.