Dwarf Tawny Wave
Cyclophora nanaria
Its caterpillars are 'inchworms' that mimic twigs to hide from predators, moving in a looping motion as if measuring the earth.
- Scientific name
- Cyclophora nanaria
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Geometridae › Cyclophora
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous woodlands, temperate forests, and shrublands.
- Diet
- Caterpillars feed on the leaves of oaks and other woody plants; adults drink flower nectar.
- Range
- North America, United States, Mexico
- Size
- Wingspan of 15 to 22 mm
- Lifespan
- 1 to 2 months
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, pesticide runoff, and artificial light pollution.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless. If one lands on you, enjoy the gentle encounter. Avoid touching their delicate wings, as losing wing scales can impair their ability to fly.
Cyclophora nanaria , the dwarf tawny wave , is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found from California to Texas and from New Jersey to Florida west along the Gulf coast. The range extends south through Dominica and Jamaica to Argentina. It is an introduced species in Hawaii.
Photo: Nick Block, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/de45070d-fcde-439c-9083-a1618280aed5.md