Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Crocus Geometer Moth
By: Tom Berg:
Over the years, some moths have been called “jewels of the night”. This is because they are nocturnal and fly under the cover of darkness, and many of them are very beautiful. One unusual and beautiful moth is the Crocus Geometer moth. It is more colorful than some moths, and although it is not as colorful as most butterflies, it is still a very beautiful creature.
Most crocus geometer moths are bright yellow in color, with small brown markings on their wings and body. Some individuals are a more pale yellow, and some have more and darker brown spots and splotches than others. Females usually have far fewer markings than the heavily spotted males. These are fairly small moths, with a typical wingspan of less than two inches. Smaller specimens have a wingspan of just over one inch.
Like most adult moths, crocus geometer moths are strongly attracted to bright lights when flying at night. The moths are easily dazzled by the lights, and they often land on the ground or on the sides of buildings near these light sources. That is where most people see them the following morning.
Crocus geometer moths prefer to live in woodlands and forested areas, including more open woodlands. The caterpillars of these moths look like inchworms, and they feed on a wide variety of leaves and plants. Some of their favorites seem to be dogwood, wild rose and goldenrod. They have even been known to feed on the leaves of poison ivy plants.
Adult crocus geometer moths, however, do not feed at all during their short life. They usually only live for 2-3 weeks before mating and dying. After finding a mate, the female moths find a convenient place in low-hanging bushes or shrubs to lay their eggs. That act completes the female’s life cycle and she dies soon afterwards.
Crocus geometer moths are part of the genus Xanthotype, and there are a total of five different species in this group. All five species live exclusively in North America, and they look so similar that it is almost impossible to tell them apart from one another. So if you see a yellow moth that looks like this, just call it a crocus geometer moth!
Have you had a great outdoor experience? Join Global Outdoors and write a review to tell everyone about it! We’re building the home for trusted reviews of outdoor experiences, outfitters, and guides.
