Microdes diplodonta
Common NameMicrodes diplodonta
Scientific NameMicrodes diplodonta
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyLarentiinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Primary Colorsbrown, dark brown, grayish-brown, pale
HabitatWoodlands, forests, bogs, and areas with ericaceous shrubs
Geographic RangeEastern and Central North America (United States and Canada)
Host PlantsVaccinium spp. (blueberries, cranberries), Gaylussacia spp. (huckleberries)
Flight PeriodApril to June, sometimes a second brood in late summer
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Larvae are 'loopers' or 'inchworms' that feed on ericaceous plants, pupating in the soil or leaf litter before emerging as adults.
Identification TipsLook for its small size and the distinctive, complex pattern of wavy dark and light brown bands on the forewings, often found in habitats with blueberries and huckleberries.
Description
A small moth with cryptically patterned forewings featuring intricate dark brown, reddish-brown, and pale grayish-brown wavy bands and lines, providing excellent camouflage. The hindwings are a plainer, lighter grayish-brown.
