Moths of North Carolina
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405 NC Records

Macaria pustularia (Guenée, [1858]) - Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: MacariiniP3 Number: 91a0737 MONA Number: 6273.00 MONA Synonym: Speranza pustularia
Comments: This is one of 73 species in this genus that occur in North America, with 17 species occurring in North Carolina. In the latest checklist of North American Lepidoptera (Pohl and Nanz, 2023), North American members of the genus Speranza and Epelis were treated as junior synonyms of Macaria.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Itame pustularia); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (2008)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner et al. (2001); Wagner, 2005; Ferguson (2008)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Macaria pustularia is a medium-sized, glossy white geometrid. Like other members of the Macarini, but unlike all other white geometrids in our area, its forewings are subfalcate and the hindwing somewhat pointed (Forbes, 1948). Usually, the wings are crossed by three well-defined, reddish-brown transverse lines, although they are obscure in some specimens or marked only at the costa. There may also be a band of dare speckles in the subterminal area and a terminal series of dark spots or dashes.
Adult Structural Features: Males have pectinate antennae and are foveate. Females also show a slightly developed fovea.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are blue-green (Forbes, 1948) or occasionally wine red (Wagner et al., 2001). A fairly broad pale subdorsal stripe runs along the length of the body and there is also a somewhat darkened dorsal line that is bounded by narrow pale stripes (Wagner et al., 2002).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found statewide, from the Barrier Island to High Mountains
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Univoltine, flying mainly in the spring and summer
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: North Carolina records come from a wide variety of hardwood habitats, especially wet or mesic sites but at least some from dry ridges.
Larval Host Plants: Stenophagous, feeding on maples, particularly Red Maple (Forbes, 1948; Wagner et al., 2001; Ferguson, 2008). Other species that have been reported as host plants include Sugar Maple, Silver Maple, and Mountain Maple (Ferguson, 2008). - View
Observation Methods: Comes well to black lights but we do not have any records from bait.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Although this species uses only a narrow range of host plants, it is as abundant and ubiquitous as its main host plant, Red Maple, and appears to be equally secure within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Macaria pustularia - Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth

136 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-05
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Macon Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30
Swain Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-08
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-30
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-25
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-25
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-24
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2023-06-16
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-06-09
Alleghany Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-06-08
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-06
Alleghany Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-06
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-06
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-06-04
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-06-01
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-05-26
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-25
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-25
Wake Co.
Comment: