Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Macaria Members:	123 NC Records

Macaria pinistrobata (Ferguson, 1972) - White Pine Angle

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, BOLD

Technical 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: 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

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

	Recorded by: David George, Kevin Bischof, Rich Teper, Patrick Coin on 2025-08-16 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-11 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-14 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-05-18 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-02 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-08-13 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-12 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-08 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-07 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-03 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-30 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-26 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-10 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-10 Madison 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 2024-06-02 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-28 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-04-11 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-26 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-24 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-24 Madison Co. Comment: