CLOSED: Big Geometrid Moth - Zale? Oak Beauty?

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Oct 26, 2007

I have a few pictures of a large (about 2 inches wide) Geometrid moth, I'd like to hear what people think it might be.

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Oct 26, 2007

The same moth after it was liberated. Vastly different lighting, so it doesn't look the same.

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Oct 26, 2007

It has white rings on its legs and a dorsal tuft, like the Oak Beauty does. Still looking at others, too.

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fly_girl The Woodlands, TX(Zone 8b) Oct 27, 2007

Mike, this is quite a task, the Geometridae is the second largest family of moths with about 15,000 species! Couldn't you pick a smaller family? LOL

It does look similar to the Oak Beauty.....I'll look some, it'll be fun...it beats cutting the grass!

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jun 16, 2009

Fly_girl, I'm sure you've been wondering about this moth's identity as you mow your lawn, but I now believe this is Zale lunata, based on its larger size than similar Zale moths, and it was flying in late October, later than the Maple Zale. And it's supposed to be very common.

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