Moths of North Carolina
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340 NC Records

Macaria aemulataria Walker, 1861 - Common Angle

Macaria aemulataria
view caption 		Macaria aemulatariaMacaria aemulatariaMacaria aemulataria
view caption
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Ennominae		Tribe:
Macariini		P3 Number:
91a0752		 MONA Number:
6326.00		 MONA Synonym:
Semiothisa aemulataria
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. Macaria aemulataria is included in the hardwood-feeding Ulsterata Group (= the Notata Group of Ferguson, 2008), of which M. ulsterata and M. promiscuata are the other members that occur in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Semiothisa aemulataria); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical 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. M. 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 M. promiscuata or M. ulsterata 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 M. promiscuata and typical in M. 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 M. bicolorata, and the median band is not as contrastingly dark and red as it is in M. promiscuata. M. aemulataria has been particularly confused with M. aequiferaria, which is confined to habitats containing cypress (Taxodium sp.). Males are easily distinguished by structural features and M. 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.
Wingspan: 22 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Males have non-swollen hind tibiae, similar only to M. ulsterata among the Macaria that occur in North Carolina (Forbes, 1948; Ferguson, 2008). Unlike M. aequiferaria, males lack a fovea and their antennae are only moderately serrate, rather than heavily serrate or bipectinate as in M. aequiferaria (Forbes, 1948). They also lack the pecten on the third abdominal sternum, similar again to M. ulsterata but unlike most other Macaria (Ferguson, 2008).
Structural photos
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.
Macaria aemulataria
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: Larvae are reportedly stenophagous, feeding on maples (Wagner et al., 2001; Ferguson, 2008). Reared larvae feed on Red Maple (Acer rubrum) and Box-elder (A. negundo), but refuse plants other than maples (Ferguson, 2008). Other reported hosts require verification. - View
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 SNR [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

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

Recorded by: John Petranka and Sally Gewalt on 2025-04-29
Warren Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-19
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Larry Chen on 2025-04-02
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-28
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-28
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-28
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Larry Chen on 2024-09-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-09-22
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-07
Alamance Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-05
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-02
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-26
Alamance Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-19
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-04
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-12
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Luke Armstrong on 2024-06-01
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-13
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-11
Madison Co.
Comment: FWL = 11 mm		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-11
Madison Co.
Comment: FWL = 11 mm
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-27
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-04-21
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2024-04-20
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-18
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-18
Madison Co.
Comment: