"These two species (R. prunivorata/undulata) are nearly indistinguishable as adults, but the caterpillars have quite different appearance and behaviors. R. prunivorata is gregarious, has white sides and a black back, and can sometimes be a pest on Black Cherry. It ties up and kills an entire shoot. R. undulata caterpillars are solitary and have less striking coloration" (Wagner, 2005).
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A Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/16/2017). Verified by A. Hendrickson/BugGuide.
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Mark Etheridge.
A Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/25/2019). Verified by Roger Downer/BAMONA.
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Emily Stanley.
Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (8/8/2020). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved.
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Timothy Reichard.
Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/25/2019). (c) Emily L. Stanley, all rights reserved.
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Emily Stanley.
Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (8/8/2020). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved.
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Timothy Reichard.
Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/28/2018). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved.
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Timothy Reichard.
Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/19/2021). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved.
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Timothy Reichard.
Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/19/2021). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved.
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Timothy Reichard.
A Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/20/). Specimen provided by John Glaser.
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Larry Line.
Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth in Garrett Co., Maryland (6/10/2023). (c) Hugh McGuinness, all rights reserved.
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Hugh McGuinness.
A Ferguson's Scallop Shell Moth caterpillar in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/1/2019). Determined by Bob Biagi/BugGuide.
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Mark Etheridge.
Rheumaptera prunivorata, the cherry scallop shell or Ferguson's scallop shell, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Alexander Douglas Campbell Ferguson in 1955. It is found in North America from New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario in Canada, through the eastern parts of the United States, down to Georgia.
The wingspan is about 35 mm. The moth flies from May to September depending on the location.