Thalera pistasciaria (Guenée, 1857). [7084]
Thalera pistasciaria was moved from the genus Hethemia to Thalera when genetic analysis showed it to be contained within that genus in a monophyletic clade. It is related to the northern species Mesothea incertata. Though highly variable in color, it is most frequently seen in the northeast as a sage green adult that fades to an orange-yellow color. The ventral surfaces of both forewings and hindwings may be found in an even, bright orange color (top, right). The wing fringes of New Jersey pinelands specimens we have collected show a strong violet red color (above, lower specimen) on the wing fringe, while central Pennsylvania specimens have tended to have a fringe that is concolorous with the wing. A southern subspecies is colored more red-brown to purple-brown. Images of Thalera pistasciaria larvae.
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Thalera pistasciaria subspecies insecutata, adult female, dorsal wing surfaces showing strong red-purple coloration of this southern form. Adult specimens soon fade to a mocha brown color reminiscent of the brown color spring forms of Nemoria bistriaria. Specimen above collected in sweetgum-tupelo-cypress forest, Colleton Co., South Carolina, 22 March 2008.