Oblique-striped Emerald
Common NameOblique-striped Emerald
Scientific NameChloropteryx tepperaria
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyGeometrinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsgreen, white
HabitatDeciduous forests, woodlands, suburban areas, and gardens where host plants are present.
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Nova Scotia south to Florida, and west to Texas and Manitoba.
Host Plantsoak, maple, birch, willow, cherry, various broadleaf trees and shrubs
Flight PeriodMultiple broods from April to October in the south, typically May to September in the north.
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae are twig mimics, typically green or brown, feeding on the foliage of various broadleaf trees and shrubs. They pupate in a cocoon, often in leaf litter, and overwinter in the pupal stage.
Identification TipsKey identification features include its distinctive bright green color and the two parallel, oblique white lines on the forewings that continue as a single line on the hindwings. The feathery antennae, particularly in males, are also characteristic.
Description
A small, vibrant green moth characterized by two prominent, parallel, oblique white lines across each forewing and a single white line across each hindwing. Its antennae are feathery.
