Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Macaria Members: 119 NC Records

Macaria pinistrobata (Ferguson, 1972) - White Pine Angle


Macaria pinistrobataMacaria pinistrobataMacaria pinistrobataMacaria pinistrobata
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea
Family:
Geometridae
Subfamily:
Ennominae
Tribe:
Macariini
P3 Number:
91a0768
MONA Number:
6347.00
MONA Synonym:
Semiothisa pinistrobata
Other Common Name:
White Pine Looper
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: Pinistrobata is included in the conifer-feeding signaria species group by Ferguson (2008), of which signaria, fissinotata, and granitaria are the other members that occur in North Carolina (two others, marmorata and oweni, have also been doubtfully recorded).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Semiothisa pinistrobata); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Ferguson (2008)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Maier et al. (2013)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Similar to other Macaria in their angled hindwings and sub-falcate forewings, but members of the signaria species group are distinguished from all other North Carolina Macaria in possessing a grayish rather than a yellowish head (Forbes, 1948). All members of this group are generally similar in their pattern of lines and spots. Pinistrobata is more grayish than signaria, usually with more contrast between the ground color and the lines; the pre-apical patch at the costal end of the subterminal line is also usually larger, darker, and more quadrangular than in signaria. The postmedian line is waved in pinistrobata, similar to signaria and granitata, but unlike fissinotata, where it runs straight across the wing. Granitata is even more contrastingly marked than pinstrobata, often appearing bicolored, with the subterminal area much darker than the medial and basal areas; the pre-apical spot is also usually bright red-brown in granitata, rather than dark blackish-brown as is typical of pinistrobata, although this patch is occasionally brown in this species, approaching that of granitaria (see Ferguson, 1974, 2008, and Covell, 1984, for details).
Adult Structural Features: All members of the signaria group have males with foveae (Ferguson, 2008).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are green with pale lateral stripes and a frosted dorsal surface and the head is also mainly green, unlike those of other Macaria that feed on pines (Maier et al., 2013).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: All of our records come from the Mountains, but from the entire north-south extent of montane habitats in the state.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Macaria pinistrobataAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: Occurs throughout the growing season, but our data are not sufficient to determine if there are separate flights.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come a variety of mesic to dry forests in the Mountains, corresponding to the range of habitat types where White Pine grows.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are monophagous, feeding only on Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) (Ferguson, 1974; Wagner et al., 2001; Ferguson, 2008; Maier et al., 2013). - 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 highly specialized, the host plant used by M. pinistrobata is abundant, widespread, and occupies a wide range of montane habitats, including pine plantations. Currently, this moth appears to be very secure.

 Photo Gallery for Macaria pinistrobata - White Pine Angle

73 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-05-18
Buncombe Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-02
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-26
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-08-13
Yancey Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-12
Graham Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-08
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-07
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-03
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-30
Graham Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-26
Yancey Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-10
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-10
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-02
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-02
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-02
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-01
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-28
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-04-11
Buncombe Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-26
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-26
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-24
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-24
Madison Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Avery Young on 2023-09-22
Buncombe Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-15
Macon Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-14
Macon Co.
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Macaria pinistrobataRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-14
Macon Co.
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