Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members:
Trigrammia Members:
116 NC Records

Trigrammia quadrinotaria Herrich-Schäffer, [1855] - Four-spotted Angle

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: MacariiniP3 Number: 910692.00 MONA Number: 6360.00 MONA Synonym: Semiothisa quadrinotaria
Comments: Only a single species is currently recognized for this genus in North America.
Species Status: Ferguson (2008) and others suspect that trigrammia is actually a complex comprising two or more species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Semiothisa quadrinotaria)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A pale, medium-sized Geometrid. As in the genus Macaria, with which it was formerly combined under the generic name Semiothisa, the outer margin of hindwing is somewhat angled and the apex of the forewing is slightly falcate, but usually less so than in Macaria species. Both pairs of wings are white to grayish white, variably dusted with brow and crossed by three brown lines: the antemedian, median, and postmedian (Ferguson, 2008). A terminal and weak subterminal line may also be present and the fringes may or may not be checkered. Black dots are distinctively located in the subterminal area (sometimes absent on the hindwings), usually without the connection to the subterminal line as is typical in Macaria; the black costal spots characteristic of Macaria are also missing in Trigrammia. The subterminal black dots also distinguish this species from Eumacaria madopata, which is otherwise similar in wing shape, color, and pattern.
Adult Structural Features: Antennae are simple in both sexes, similar to most species of Macaria and Digrammia but differing from Eumacaria madopata, where male antennae are bipectinate.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: Stenophagous, feeding solely on species of Buckeye (Aesculus spp.) Ferguson (2008) reared larvae on both Yellow Buckeye (A. flava = octandra) and Red Buckeye (A. pavia). Over most of the Piedmont in North Carolina, Painted Buckeye (A. sylvatica) is the only possible host. Ferugson noted that larvae refused to feed on European Horse Chestnuts, although other authors have had some success on exotic species.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 [S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Trigrammia quadrinotaria - Four-spotted Angle

Photos: 14

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-06-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-05-30
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-04-11
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-04-07
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-04-19
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2021-04-17
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-28
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2019-07-01
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-05-03
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf,B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger on 2015-06-17
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-04-19
Warren Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-07-13
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2012-03-23
Halifax Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: S.P. Hall on 2008-05-13
Union Co.
Comment: