Moths of North Carolina
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1 NC Records

Hesperumia sulphuraria Packard, 1873 - Sulphur Moth

Hesperumia sulphuraria
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Ennominae		Tribe:
Boarmiini		P3 Number:
91a1046		 MONA Number:
6431.00		 Other Common Name:
Sulphur Wave Moth
Comments: A genus of 6 species, 2 from Japan and 4 from the United States. One species, the type for the genus, occurs in our area but is far more common in California.
Species Status: Although no specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded, one from Maryland has and matches specimens across Canada to British Columbia. Specimens from California are not conspecific and the genus in western North American needs revision.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2001)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This medium sized pale yellow geometrid with a large brown discal spot is unlikely to be mistaken for any other species. In addition to the typical form, three other named forms are known (see Forbes, 1948), none of which have been recorded in North Carolina.
Adult Structural Features: Both male and female genitalia have unique characters and are very diagnostic.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae vary from tan, gray, green, rose or lavender, but have a characteristic raised area above the spiracle on A2 (see photo and description in Wagner et al., 2001).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This is a northern and western species known in North Carolina only from Hanging Rock State Park. A record is also shown on the Moth Photographers Website for the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and one from eastern Kentucky; otherwise it occurs sparsely in the East from West Virginia nortward.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Hesperumia sulphuraria