Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members:
Iridopsis Members:
259 NC Records

Iridopsis vellivolata (Hulst, 1881) - Large Purplish Gray Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: BoarmiiniP3 Number: 911000.00 MONA Number: 6582.00
Comments: One of 20 species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico, seven of which have been recorded in North Carolina. In Rindge's 1966 revision of this group, 18 were placed in Anacamptodes, which he recognized as possibly representing the same genus as Iridopsis, and two in Iridopsis itself.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Anacamptodes vellivolata); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: One of the largest members of this genus in North Carolina, similar in size and markings to I. defectaria but with a solidly purplish rather than white ground color. This coloration is similar to that of the smaller I. humaria but it lacks the black ring and white band found in that species on the first abdominal segment.
Wingspan: 30-35 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: As in other members of this genus, vellivolata lacks a fovea at the base of the forewing that is found in other genera of the Grays.
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)

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