Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members:
Orthofidonia Members:
5 NC Records

Orthofidonia exornata (Walker, 1862) - No Common Name


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: BoarmiiniP3 Number: 910843.00 MONA Number: 6429.00
Comments: A North American genus of three species found mostly in Eastern Canada and down through the mountains to North Carolina and Georgia. All three species have similar ranges and life histories. They do not appear to be closely related to any other Geometrid genera.
Species Status: Readily distinguished from the other two species which barcode together. Specimens from North Carolina have not been examined but those from Maryland and Virginia are similar to Canadian specimens.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Not in either field guideOnline Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2001)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Of the three species this one has the trace of a broad, white postmedian line on the blackish forewing. Worn specimens can be very difficult to distinguish from O. tinctaria. Sexes are similar.
Adult Structural Features: The number of cornuti in the vesica of the aedeagus differentiates O. exornata from O. tinctaria. In North Carolina specimens the number varies from 2-4 and in Canadian specimens from 2-3 (McGuffin, 1977). In O. tinctaria there are usually 6-9 cornuti and in O. flavivenata there are usually 4-6 but maculation will distinguish this latter species.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are lime-green with a dull reddish mid-dorsal stripe (see Wagner et al., 2001, for an illustration and detailed description). Wagner et al. recommend that larvae of this genus all be reared in order to determine their identity.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably restricted to the Mountains
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)

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