Wavy-lined Emerald Moth Synchlora aerata (Fabricius, 1798)    Synonyms: Hodges #7058, Wavy-lined Emerald.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Geometridae   >   Genus Synchlora   

Status:

According to Maryland moth experts John Glaser and Larry Line, the Wavy-lined Emerald Moth is common across the state.

Description:

Very similar to Southern Emerald Moth and great care should be taken in separating the two species. The Southern Emerald Moth has a more jagged white transverse line across the wing than the Wavy-lined Emerald Moth. The Wavy-lined Emerald Moth should be the only Synchlora west of the piedmont.

Where to find:

Readily comes into porch lights.

Relationships:

Host plants include Blue Mistflower, Common Dandelion, Gray Goldenrod, Canada Goldenrod, Black-eyed Susan, American Red Raspberry, Spearmint, Yellow Sweetclover, Dense Blazing Star, Shaggy Blazing Star, Black Huckleberry, Canadian Horseweed, Sweet Fern, Yellow Birch, White Heath Aster, (Database of the Word's Lepidopteran Host Plants).

There are 246 records in the project database.

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A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (9/27/2019). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/10/2016). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/26/2013). Photo by Andy Martin. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/30/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (8/8/2017). Verified by Bob Biagi/BugGuide and Roger Downer/BAMONA. Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/21/2014). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald in Howard Co., Maryland (10/3/2012). Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (6/30/2013). Determined by Tim Reichard. Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7/25/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7/14/2020). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/18/2014). Verified by Roger Downer/BAMONA. Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/19/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Carroll Co., Maryland (7/16/2013). Photo by Anna Letaw. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/28/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7/14/2020). (c) flgirl09, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by flgirl09 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (9/20/2016). Determined by Tim Reichard. Photo by Jim Wilkinson. (MBP list)

Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/11/2018). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/20/2016). Confirmed by A. Hendrickson/BugGuide. Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald in Somerset Co., Maryland (6/26/2004). Photo by Lance Biechele. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/23/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/6/2019). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/29/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/23/2010). Photo by Bob Patterson. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/6/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/10/2005). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (6/27/2004). Photo by Larry Line. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth caterpillar in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/29/2018). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth larva in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/23/2016). Photo by Bob Cammarata. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth caterpillar in Worcester Co., Maryland (10/16/2016). Photo by Bob Cammarata. (MBP list)

A Camouflaged Looper, the caterpillar of an Emerald Moth (Wavy-lined or Southern) in Kent Co., Maryland (9/14/2014). A Synchlora caterpillar adorns its body with plant fragments, usually flower petals, to camouflage it as it feeds. Wavy-lined is the only widespread species to do so according to Wagner, but BugGuide suggests that from Maryland southwards other Synchlora spp. are also present and only raising to adulthood can yield a definite caterpillar ID. Photo by Nancy Martin. (MBP list)

A Wavy-lined Emerald Moth in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/12/2006). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)


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