About Phaeoura quernaria (Smith, 1797)
Phaeoura quernaria, commonly known as the oak beauty, is a moth species belonging to the family Geometridae. It was first formally described by James Edward Smith in 1797. This species is distributed across eastern North America, and its range extends westward to east-central Alberta. Its preferred habitat is aspen-cherry shrubland. The wingspan of adult Phaeoura quernaria ranges from 37 to 56 millimeters. In the southern portion of its range, adults can be seen in flight from February through October, and this region supports two generations of the species each year. The larvae of Phaeoura quernaria feed on a variety of hardwood tree species, including Betula papyrifera, and species from the Salix, Populus, and Prunus genera. Larvae range in color from grey to brown or greenish. They can be found active from June through October. This species overwinters in the pupal stage.
