Moths of North Carolina

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

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Ennominae

Tribe:
Macariini

P3 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 Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical 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 (Acer rubrum) (Forbes, 1948; Wagner et al., 2001; Ferguson, 2008). Other species that have been reported as host plants include Sugar Maple (A. saccharum), Silver Maple (A. saccharinum), and Mountain Maple (A. spicatum) (Ferguson, 2008). Reports from other hosts require verification. - View

Observation Methods: Comes well to black lights but we do not have any records from bait.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Maple Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]

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

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

	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-07-03 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-07 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-20 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-19 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-17 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-16 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2025-05-16 Davidson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-16 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-09 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-06 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-16 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2024-07-14 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-10 Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2024-07-02 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-26 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-25 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-06-24 Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-23 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-20 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-18 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-17 Lincoln Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Patrick Coin, Mark Basinger on 2024-06-16 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-06-14 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-14 Scotland Co. Comment: