Moths of North Carolina

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Macaria minorata Packard, 1873 - Minor Angle

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Ennominae

Tribe:
Macariini

P3 Number:
91a0765

MONA Number:
6340.00

MONA Synonym:
Semiothisa minorata

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: Minorata is included in the conifer-feeding bicolorata species group by Ferguson (2008), of which bisignata, bicolorata, distribuaria, transitaria, and aeqiferaria are the other members that occur in North Carolina

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Semiothisa minorata); 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 small, brown Angle -- the smallest of our species of Macaria (forewing length typically 10-12 mm) -- with the angled hindwings and sub-falcate forewings typical of this genus. The lines on the forewing are typically weak or missing, usually represented only by dark spots on the costal margin; the spot patch on the subterminal at the end of the cell is also absent. The forewings are usually evenly shaded in brown, with a band of reddish brown located between the postmedian and subterminal lines. The reddish band is followed by a terminal zone that has the same ground color as the medial and basal areas. Minorata is similar in pattern and coloration to transitaria, but is noticeably smaller and usually has hindwings that are much paler than the forewings (Ferguson, 2008).

Wingspan: 18-23 mm (Forbes, 1948)

Forewing Length: 10-12 mm, males; 12-13 mm, females (Ferguson, 2008)

Adult Structural Features: The antennae of the male are moderately bipectinate (Ferguson, 2008) and the genitalia are distinctly different from the rest of this species group (see Ferguson for details).

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 minorata and bisignata feed on White Pine, larvae need to be reared to adulthood to determine their species. However, they both can be distinguished from the larvae of another White Pine feeding species, Macaria pinistrobata, which has thin dark stripes located beneath the pale subspiracular line (Wagner et al., 2001).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Restricted to the Mountains (the one Piedmont record was from a site where no White Pines occur and probably represents a mistaken transitaria).

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: Appears to have a single extended flight period covering the growing season from late spring to early fall.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Occurs in most montane habitats where White Pines grow, from riparian areas at fairly low elevations to the dry summits of Mount Jefferson and Grandfather Mountain.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are stenophagous, feeding on hard pines, and probably mainly on Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) (Wagner et al., 2001). Maier et al. (2011) also reported that it is rarely found on Jack Pine, Red Pine, and Pitch Pine, only the last of which occurs in North Carolina and only in the mountains. - 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 White Pine 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 appears to be a host plant specialist, White Pine is itself a common species that is widespread in the Mountains and occurring in a variety of habitats and elevations. The distributional features also apply to the moth; consequently, it appears to be secure in North Carolina.

Photo Gallery for Macaria minorata - Minor Angle

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

	Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-08-24 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Marilyn Westphal and Becky Elkin. on 2025-08-17 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Kevin Bischof, Rich Teper, Patrick Coin on 2025-08-16 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Kevin Bischof, Rich Teper, Patrick Coin on 2025-08-15 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-12 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-06 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-23 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-08-13 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-08-13 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-08-13 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-04 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-31 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-23 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-21 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-18 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2024-07-14 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-29 Madison Co. Comment: forewing length = 12 mm.
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-26 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-02 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-02 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-14 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-14 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-05 Madison Co. Comment: FWL = 12 mm.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-05 Madison Co. Comment: FWL = 12 mm.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-29 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-04-27 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-05 Buncombe Co. Comment: