Moths of North Carolina
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131 NC Records

Macaria promiscuata (Ferguson, 1974) - Promiscuous Angle

Macaria promiscuata
view caption 		Macaria promiscuataMacaria promiscuataMacaria promiscuata
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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: MacariiniP3 Number: 91a0754 MONA Number: 6331.00 MONA Synonym: Semiothisa promiscuata
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 promiscuata is included in the hardwood-feeding Ulsterata Group (= the Notata Group of Ferguson, 2008), of which M. aemulataria and M. ulsterata are the other members that occur in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Semiothisa promiscuata).Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Ferguson (2008)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Ferguson (2008)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A pale gray or white species with a yellow to rust-brown head and the usual Macaria pattern of lines, spots, and subapical excavation on the outer margin. Very similar to M. ulsterata in pattern but has a yellowish or brownish tint, particularly along the lines, which are gray in M. ulsterata. Macaria aemulataria is also similar but smaller and more heavily dusted with brownish scales, including the basal area, which is usually clear gray or white in M. promiscuata. The large patch of spots on the subterminal line below the apex is usually larger in promiscuata, extending close to the bar that extends downward from the costal margin along the subterminal. That bar is also usually a brighter red-brown than in aemulataria and there is a strongly marked line on the undersides of the wings of the same color -- easily observed when the wings are held vertically. We recommend examining or photographing the hindwings to distinguish between the two species, since worn specimens can be difficult to assign to species.
Adult Structural Features: Unlike the other two members of the ulsterata group, males in M. promiscuata have a swollen hind tibiae and a pecten on the third abdominal sternite, similar to most other species of Macaria (Ferguson, 2008).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are distinctively marked with purple and green (Ferguson, 2008). Any Macaria larvae found feeding on Red Bud are likely to represent this species (see Ferguson, 2008, for details).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found primarily in the Mountains and Piedmont but rare in the Coastal Plain, being found in that region primarily in the floodplains and adjoining slopes of the brownwater rivers (Roanoke, Tar, Neuse, and Cape Fear).
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: Ferguson notes that promiscuata has two clear broods in Maryland and probably elsewhere. In North Carolina, it appears to be out during most of the growing season between late spring and late summer.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Redbud often grows on rich soils associated mafic or calcareous rock formations and we have a number of records of promiscuata from such habitats or from similarly rich mountain coves and floodplains. In the Coastal Plain, which is dominated by acidic, nutrient-poor sandy soils, records for M. promiscuata are essentially confined to brownwater river floodplains and adjoining slopes, where rich alluvial soils are carried down from the Piedmont and Mountains.
Larval Host Plants: Monophagous, feeding solely on Redbud (Ferguson, 2008). - View
Observation Methods: Comes well to 15 watt blacklights but we do not have any records from either bait or flowers.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Dry-Mesic Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 [S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is something of a habitat specialist, occurring primarily in stands of hardwood forests growing on rich soils. As such, it is fairly local in occurrence but is nonetheless found fairly widely over the state. Currently, there are few known threats other than loss and fragmentation of its habitat units.

 Photo Gallery for Macaria promiscuata - Promiscuous Angle

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

Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-04
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-18
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin on 2024-06-22
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin on 2024-06-22
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-06-01
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-13
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-30
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-30
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-20
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-08-16
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-22
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-22
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-06-08
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2023-05-15
Alamance Co.
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Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-05-08
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2023-04-05
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2023-03-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2022-08-28
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-30
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Lior Carlson, Becky Watkins, Richard Teper, Stephen Dunn on 2022-07-23
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-07-12
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-11
Alamance Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2022-07-02
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-04-30
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-04-30
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-08-09
Chatham Co.
Comment: