The Snowy Geometer Moth (Eugonobapta nivosaria), of the family Geometridae, has been spotted in the foothills of the Pachaimalai near Thuraiyur recently.
Q. Ashoka Chakkaravarthy, Wildlife Biologist and Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, Department of Foundation Courses, St Joseph’s College, who recorded photographic and video evidence of the insect in December 2015, said that the Snowy Geometer is native to USA and Canada, and finding it so far away from its natural habitat was uncommon. “It took me two months to identify this insect because there is very little documentation available on them in India,” said Mr. Chakkaravarthy.
The moth’s scientific name derives from the Greek word meaning ‘the earth measurer’ in reference to the way the larvae appear to ‘measure the earth’ as they move along in a circular motion. The Snowy Geometer has a wingspan of 1 to 1.25 inches. Sometimes there is a small, black discal spot on the underside of all wings, which are pointed in shape. It is often confused with the White Spring Moth (Lomographa vestaliata) which does not have pointed hind wings. The moths are easily recognised by their habit of spreading their wings out when at rest, exposing similarly patterned fore and hind wings. In its native habitat, the Snowy Geometer flies from May to August. There are two broods each summer.
Geometridae has around 35,000 species of moths, over 1400 of which are species from six sub-families indigenous to North America alone.
“The present study puts forward the need to preserve the Pachamalai hills landscape,” he added.
