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Species Details
Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
Common NameSmoky Carpet, Four-barred Grey
SeasonalityPeak adult activity in AB is in May. A second generation in parts of the range, possibly also in AB.
IdentificationThe uniform grey background colour, evenly curved transverse lines and relatively small size make intertexta most simialr to the Semiothisa unipunctaria group. However, intertexta lacks the dark forewing subterminal patch of Semiothisa, and often has four evenly spaced forewing transverse lines.
Listed as anticaria (Wlk.) by McGuffin (1977), but this name was synonimized under intertexta by Ferguson in Hodges (1983).
Scientific Name
Aethalura intertexta
Common Name
Smoky Carpet, Four-barred Grey
Habitat
Mesic woodlands where the hosts (birch and alder) occur.
Seasonality
Peak adult activity in AB is in May. A second generation in parts of the range, possibly also in AB.
Identification
The uniform grey background colour, evenly curved transverse lines and relatively small size make intertexta most simialr to the Semiothisa unipunctaria group. However, intertexta lacks the dark forewing subterminal…
The uniform grey background colour, evenly curved transverse lines and relatively small size make intertexta most simialr to the Semiothisa unipunctaria group. However, intertexta lacks the dark forewing subterminal patch of Semiothisa, and often has four evenly spaced forewing transverse lines.
Listed as anticaria (Wlk.) by McGuffin (1977), but this name was synonimized under intertexta by Ferguson in Hodges (1983).
Life History
Larvae are solitary defoliators, and pupate before overwintering. The larva (illustrated in Wagner et al. 2001) varies in colour from yellow and green to brown or mauve with fine paler lines. There are two broods…
Larvae are solitary defoliators, and pupate before overwintering. The larva (illustrated in Wagner et al. 2001) varies in colour from yellow and green to brown or mauve with fine paler lines. There are two broods annually in BC and eastern USA, with flights in May and again in August. There is currently no indication of a second flight in Alberta.
Conservation
Not of concern.
Diet Info
Larvae feed on members of the birch family, including birches (Betula papyrifera, B. glandulosa, B. betulifolia) and alders (Alnus spp.) (Prentice 1963).
Range
A transcontinental boreal species across southern Canada from Nova Scotia to the BC coast, north to Lake Athabasca in Alberta and south to Georgia and Oregon (Prentice 1963, McGuffin 1977).
Citation
Page Citation for Aethalura intertexta
Page Citation
"Species Details - Aethalura intertexta, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search-test.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3949/9-15703. Accessed 03 Nov. 2025.
References
Author
Hodges, R. W. et al.
Title
Check List of the Lepidoptera of America North of Mexico
Publication Date
1983
Pages
284
Author
Prentice, R. M.
Title
Forest Lepidoptera of Canada. (1963)
Publication Date
1963
Volume
3
Pages
281
Author
Wagner, D.L, D.L. Ferguson, T.L. McCabe and R.C. Reardon
Title
Geometroid Caterpillars of Northeastern and Appalachian Forests
Publication Date
2001
Pages
239
Author
McGuffin, W. C.
Title
Guide to the Geometridae of Canada (Lepidoptera): II. Subfamily Ennominae, 2.
Publication Date
1977
Series Title
Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada
Volume
101
Pages
191
Specimen Information
There are 49 specimens of this Species.
UASM9604 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1933-05-12
UASM9605 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1936-05-06
UASM9606 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1921-05-15
UASM9608 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1921-05-17
UASM9610 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1921-05-17
UASM9611 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1921-05-14
UASM9612 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1921-05-17
UASM9615 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1921-05-17
UASM9616 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1921-05-17
UASM9617 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1921-05-17
UASM9621 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1941-04-27
UASM9623 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1921-05-15
UASM9625 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1921-05-17
UASM9628 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBryant, Owen
Date Collected1924-05-16
UASM9631 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1921-05-17
UASM9635 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1921-05-17
UASM9640 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1921-05-14
UASM9641 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1921-05-14
UASM9645 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1921-05-17
UASM41861 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Colin-Cornwall Lakes Wildland Park
Collected ByMacaulay, D.
Date Collected2002-06-07
UASM41862 - Aethalura intertexta
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Colin-Cornwall Lakes Wildland Park
Collected ByMacaulay, D.
Date Collected2002-06-09