Moths of North Carolina

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Macaria transitaria (Walker, 1861) - Blurry Chocolate Angle

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Ennominae

Tribe:
Macariini

P3 Number:
91a0762

MONA Number:
6339.00

MONA Synonym:
Semiothisa transitaria

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.

Species Status: Transitaria is included in the conifer-feeding bicolorata species group by Ferguson (2008), of which bisignata, bicolorata, distribuaria, minorata, and aeqiferaria are the other members that occur in North Carolina. Only the nominate subspecies occurs in North Carolina (Ferguson, 2008).

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Semiothisa transitaria); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Ferguson (2008)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2001)

Adult Markings: A dark grayish brown species with the angled hindwings and semi-falcate forewings typical of this genus. Smaller, darker, and less contrastingly marked than distriubuaria but otherwise similar in pattern. The lines are somewhat more diffuse than in distribuaria, with the median usually the strongest. As in most of our Macaria, the lines are represented by dark spots where they intersect the costa, but the spot or blotch that is usually present on the subterminal line at the end of the cell is missing in transitaria; the subapical notch is also weakly developed in this species. The ground color is fairly evenly gray- or chocolate-brown over most of the wing, unlike distribuaria, which has the basal and medial areas much paler. Like distribuaria, however, transitaria has a prominent band of more reddish brown between the postmedian and subterminal lines. The terminal area is mottled pale and dark gray with the apex usually a fairly clear pale gray. As in other members of this species group, the head is yellow or ocher, contrasting with the grayish-brown thorax and abdomen.

Forewing Length: 13-15 mm, males; 12.5-16 mm, females (Ferguson, 2008)

Adult Structural Features: Male antennae are similar to those of distribuaria, intermediate between laminate and bipectinate (Ferguson, 2008). Other structural features are also similar to those of distribuaria.

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: With the exception of aequiferaria, larvae of the bicolorata species group are all similar to one another: glossy green or reddish with cream-colored subdorsal and subspiracular stripes that run the length of the body (see Wagner et al., 2001). Since both transitaria and bicolorata feed on a variety of pines, probably including Longleaf Pine that is also used by distribuaria, larvae need to be reared to adulthood to determine their species.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Probably occurs statewide, with the possible exception of 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: Has a long flight period, from early spring to late fall, possibly divided into three main flights.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come from a wide variety of pine-containing habitats. In the Coastal Plain, these include Maritime and Coastal Fringe Evergreen Forests and river floodplains where Loblolly is the main species of pine; peatlands, where Pond Pine is the sole species of pine; and both wet/mesic and xeric Longleaf Pine communities where Longleaf is dominant. In the Piedmont, we have a number of records from mafic barrens as well as monadnocks where Shortleaf and Scrub Pine are common. Both of those species are also found on the dry ridges where transitaria has been recorded in the Mountains, but also joined by Pitch Pine and Table Mountain Pine, both of which occur only in that region of the state.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are stenophagous, feeding solely on hard pines. Maier et al. (2011) specifically mention Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana), Red Pine (P. resinosa), and Pitch Pine (P. rigida), only the latter of which occurs in North Carolina and only in the mountains. Our records indicate that it probably feeds on a wide variety of hard pine species, including Loblolly Pine (P. taeda), Pond Pine (P. serotina), Longleaf Pine (P. palustris), Shortleaf Pine (P. echinata), and Virginia Pine (P. virginiana). - 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 General Pine Forests and Woodlands

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: This species appears to be quite secure in the state, given its wide distribution, use of multiple host plants -- many of which are common or cultivated -- and a wide range of habitats.

Photo Gallery for Macaria transitaria - Blurry Chocolate Angle

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-07-11 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-08 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-07-03 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, David Cheng, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-25 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-24 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Web Tucker on 2025-05-19 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Web Tucker on 2025-05-19 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-17 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-08 Harnett Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-07 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Abel Davalos on 2025-05-06 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-02 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25 Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Bonnie Eamick on 2025-04-25 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-24 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-24 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-04-19 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-04-19 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-04-17 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-06 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-04-05 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-04-04 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-03 Wilson Co. Comment: