Moths of North Carolina
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83 NC Records

Macaria pinistrobata (Ferguson, 1972) - White Pine Angle

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: MacariiniP3 Number: 910767.00 MONA Number: 6347.00 MONA Synonym: Semiothisa pinistrobata
Comments: One of 25 species in this genus -- commonly known as Angles (as in angular, referring to the wing shape) -- that occur in North America; 17 have been reported from North Carolina.
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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIFTechnical 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.
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: 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: Monophagous, feeding only on White Pine (Pinus strobus) (Ferguson, 1974; Wagner et al., 2001; Ferguson, 2008; Maier et al., 2013).
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 [S5]
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 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

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-24
Clay Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-20
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-13
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-05-27
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-08-30
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-08-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-08
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-12
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-20
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-08-17
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-14
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-10
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-04-24
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen and Pat McConnell on 2019-09-17
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-11-06
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-10-31
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2018-09-14
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2016-06-14
Ashe Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2015-08-10
Cherokee Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2014-09-25
Ashe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2013-07-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2013-07-20
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Doug Blatny / Jackie Nelson on 2013-07-13
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2013-07-03
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2013-06-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf, B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger on 2012-07-24
Ashe Co.
Comment: