Moths of North Carolina
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272 NC Records

Macaria aemulataria Walker, 1861 - Common Angle


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: MacariiniP3 Number: 910750.00 MONA Number: 6326.00 MONA Synonym: Semiothisa aemulataria
Comments: One of 25 species in this genus -- commonly known as Angles (as in angular, referring to the wing shape) -- that occur in North America; 17 have been reported from North Carolina. Aemulataria is included in the hardwood-feeding notata species group by Ferguson (2008), of which notata and promiscuata are the other members that occur in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Semiothisa aemulataria); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults: Ferguson (2008)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2001); Ferguson (2008)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A pale tan species with the angled hindwings, semi-falcate forewings typical of this genus. Aemulataria is usually smaller but otherwise similar to several other species and best distinguished by a combination of structural features (see below). It is usually more strongly dusted, and consequently darker than promiscuata or notata and with a smaller spot patch on the subterminal and a shallower subapical notch. The subterminal area is usually not contrastingly darker than the median area, as is frequent in promiscuata and typical in bicolorata. The undersides of the wings -- frequently visible in Macaria when they hold their wings vertically -- are not contrastingly lighter or more ochre as they are in bicolorata, and the median band is not as contrastingly dark and red as it is in promiscuata. Aemulataria has been particularly confused with aequiferaria, which is confined to habitats containing cypress (Taxodium sp.). Males are easily distinguished by structural features and aequiferaria usually has a darker subterminal area and the spot patch on the subterminal line is usually not as dissected by yellow veins (Ferguson, 2008). As in other members of this species group, the head is yellow or ocher, contrasting with the paler gray thorax and abdomen.
Adult Structural Features: Males have non-swollen hind tibiae, similar only to notata among the Macaria that occur in North Carolina (Forbes, 1948; Ferguson, 2008). Unlike aequiferaria, males lack a fovea and their antennae are only moderately serrate, rather than heavily serrate or bipectinate as in aequiferaria (Forbes, 1948). They also lack the pecten on the third abdominal sternum, similar again to notata but unlike most other Macaria (Ferguson, 2008).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are yellow or green but may also come in other colors (Wagner et al., 2001). The head is typically unmarked. A darker line runs along the mid-dorsum, bordered by cream addorsal lines; another dark line runs below the spiracles with a paler area located between the addorsal and subdorsal lines. Macaria larvae found feeding on Maples are most likely to represent this species but the larvae of many species of the Macaria are very similar to one another and any not found on their foodplants may need to be reared to adulthood to confirm their identification (see Wagner et al., 2001, and Ferguson, 2008, for details). Overwintering is done in the pupal stage (Wagner et al., 2001).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Occurs throughout North Carolina, from the Barrier Islands to the 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: Adults are present throughout most of the growing season, with possibly four peaks in activity in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: We do not have any records from Peatlands, Longleaf Pine communities, Evergreen Maritime Forests and scrub, and dry ridges and barrens, habitats where maples -- including the ubiquitous Red Maple -- are essentially absent. All other forested habitats appear to be occupied, however, ranging from Deciduous Maritime Forests on the Outer Banks to floodplains, mesic slopes, and mesic-to-dry uplands throughout the state.
Larval Host Plants: Stenophagous, feeding on Maples (Wagner et al., 2001; Ferguson, 2008). Reared larvae feed on Red Maple and Box Elder, but refuse plants other than maples (Ferguson, 2008).
Observation Methods: Adults come well to 15 watt UV lights. We have no records from bait, however, or from flowers.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Maple Forests
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: Widespread, common, feeding on a common host plant, and occupying a large range of habitats, this species is quite secure.

 Photo Gallery for Macaria aemulataria - Common Angle

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

Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-03-06
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2022-08-28
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-15
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-04
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-26
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-21
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-10
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-05
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-28
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-05-20
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2022-05-16
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-15
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-04-25
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-02-22
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-09-10
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-09-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2021-08-10
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2021-07-17
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-07
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-25
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-05-08
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-01
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-27
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-04-15
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-13
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-08
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-04
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-03-28
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-03-26
Guilford Co.
Comment: