Butterflies, Moths, Dragonflies & Damselflies of Dayton, Ohio

BARBERRY GEOMETER, BROWN BARK CARPET, and Scallop Shell Moth complex

Brown Bark Carpet moth. I have found a few individuals at my lights in May, June, and August. 

Barberry Geometer. I have found these moths at my lights every month from May through October. 

Another Barberry Geometer moth. Some individuals have orange bands on their wings.

Another Brown Bark Carpet moth found at my UV lights. 

Another Barberry Geometer with orange bands. These are quite variable moths.

There are two very similar species in the Rheumaptera genus - the Cherry Scallop Shell (Rheumpatera prunivorata) and Rheumaptera undulata. I suspect that this individual is R. undulata, but these two species cannot be distinguished for certain without dissection. These two species are treated as a complex (Scallop Shell Moth complex). To make things even more complicated, some sources now list these moths under the genus Hydria rather than Rheumaptera. This one was photographed at my UV lights on June 25, 2020. 

A darker version of the Barberry Geometer moth.

Brown Bark Carpet moths feed on clematis.