Anaplectoides prasina

10. Anaplectoides prasina (Denis and Schiffermüller)

(Fig. 43, Map 28)

Identification: Forewing length 24.0–27.0 mm. The forewing color of this species is predominantly green with various amounts of scattered black scales. Orbicular and reniform spots are variously shaded green to gray including a mixture of these colors and outlined in black. The rectangular patch between these spots is green but can be gray in some specimens. A large white subterminal patch distal to reniform spot is diagnostic. Hindwing is dark gray with white fringe.

Flight period: Collected from late June to early August.

Collected localities: North Carolina: Haywood Co., Balsam Mountain Campground, Balsam Mountain picnic area on Flat Creek Trail, Purchase Knob at house, Purchase Knob E of house field, Polls Gap on Rough Fork Trail, Polls Gap on Hemphill Bald Trail; Swain Co., Beetree Ridge, 3.3 mi NE of Clingman’s Dome parking lot on Fork Ridge Trail, 5.6 mi SW of Jct. 441 and Clingman’s Dome Road, Mount Buckley. Tennessee: Blount Co., Campsite 6 along Scott Mountain Trail, Gregory Bald; Sevier Co., 1.3 mi W of Jct. 441 and Clingman’s Dome Road on Road Prong Trail, Jakes Creek Trail Campsite 27, 7 mi S of Sugarlands Visitor Center. (46 specimens)

Elevation range: 3324–6560 ft. (1013–1999 m)

MAP 28. Collecting localities of Anaplectoides prasina.

General distribution: This species is a Holarctic boreal zone species that occurs in North America across central and southern Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia. In the East it occurs south to New Jersey and in the Appalachians to North Carolina and Tennessee. In the West it occurs south to southern Oregon then east to Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. In the Palaearctic it occurs from Great Britain to Japan and northeastern Siberia (Lafontaine 1998).

Larval hosts: Seems to be a general feeder on various herbaceous plants and shrubs including huckleberry (Gaylussacia sp., Ericaceae), hazelnut (Corylus sp., Betulaceae), maple (Acer sp., Aceraceae), whortleberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae), willow (Salix spp., Salicaceae), foxglove (Digitalis sp., Scrophulariaceae), knotweed (Polygonum sp., Polygonaceae), dock (Rumex sp., Polygonaceae), and blackberry (Rubus sp., Rosaceae) (Crumb 1956, Bretherton et al., 1979).