Introduction

The subfamily Geometrinae is represented worldwide, and includes dozens of genera of small green moths. The neotropical genera include Oospila, Phrudocentra, Racheospila, Rhodochlora, Synchlora, Tachyphyle and Tachychlora.

There are just over 30 known Synchlora species, variously distributed from Canada to Argentina. All have a similar wing shape. Most have an emerald green ground colour, with small dark discal spots and faint wavy transverse lines. The most striking characteristic however is the wing fringes, which are chequered in white and dark red. In all species the costa and antennae are also white, and most species also have white blotches on the abdomen. A few species including gerularia and xysteraria have large brown marginal blotches similar to those of certain Oospila species.

Synchlora tenuimargo is a common species distributed from Mexico to Peru.

Habitats

This species inhabits cloudforest at elevations between about 400-2000m.

Lifecycle

To be completed.

Adult behaviour

The adults rest during the daytime underneath leaves, holding their wings outspread.

Introduction

Worldwide there are over 20,000 species in the family Geometridae, of which 2,800 are placed in the subfamily Sterrhinae.

The genus Pseudasellodes is comprised of 9 species. One species – nigrofasciaria, is found on Cuba, while the remainder are distributed variously from Guanacaste to Bolivia and northern Argentina.

All Pseudasellodes species have a similar wing shape although the angularity is more exaggerated in fenestraria. The hyaline windows vary in shape and extent from one species to another – in lacunata they are greatly enlarged and merge into a single large irregular blotch that covers almost the entire surface of both wings.

Pseudasellodes fenestraria is distributed from Costa Rica to Peru, Bolivia, and southeast Brazil.

Habitats

This species inhabits cloud forest at elevations between about 800-1800m.

Lifecycle

To be completed.

Adult behaviour

The hyaline windows in the wings perfectly simulate the nibblings of insect larvae from leaves, and it is likely that the adults rest during the daytime among dead leaves on the forest floor.