This "butterfly" sounds like a moth by the name of Mesoleuca gratulata - the
"Half-white Carpet" in the Geometer family (inchworms are the larvae). It
is a day-flying moth that is one of our first noticeable or relatively
striking moths to fly in the year. I saw my first of the season a day or 2
ago. It is common at least in wooded parks in Seattle. Wing spread is
probably a bit under an inch.

Mesoleuca gratulata - ?Half-white Carpet" - Geometridae
http://www.dereila.ca/dereilaimages/BWMoth3.jpg


Stewart Wechsler
Ecological Consulting
West Seattle
206 932-7225
mailto:ecostewart at quidnunc.net

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and how to enhance habitat for the maximum diversity
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-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Cash [mailto:cash at whidbey.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 11:47 AM
To: tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] butterfly question


A small white butterfly has been hanging around the house for the past week.
I have Petersons Wetern Butterlies and I can't ID it. It looks like it would
be one
of the Whites. Both sides of the wings are all white except for a blck mark
on the
upper side like a peace symbol without the circle. The underside has a black
stripe along the edge with two white dots. There are also a couple of black
marks in the middle of the wing.

Also the guide gives a dimension but I can't find what the dimension is of.

Thanks
Rob Cash
Camano Island


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