Nemoria unitaria (Packard, 1874). [7018]

Nemoria unitaria is a widely distributed western species that resembles to some extent the eastern species Nemoria mimosaria. It is relatively large for Nemoria, with wing span in the 14.5--16 mm range. N. unitaria has been collected all along the Rocky Mountain states and Provinces, from Alberta and British Columbia in the north to New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California in the south. It has been collected at elevations as high as 7,000-9,000 feet.

The most distinctive feature of Nemoria unitaria is the hind wing line pattern, which in many specimens forms a U-shaped loop that unites the am and pm lines on the hindwing. In some specimens, especially those from more northern locations, the hindwing line markings may be so weak that a loop is not distinguishable. In other ways, the wings and abdomen of unitaria are very plain. While Ferguson reported little or no red marking on the species, Nemoria unitaria specimens collected at Capulin, NM had noticeable red-brown borders encircling the typical spots on the dorsal surface of the abdomen (see photo below).

(S. Kunz contributing)