Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFGeometridae Members:
Iridopsis Members:
248 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)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed mainly on pines but also on other species of conifers (Wagner, 2005)
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Pine Forests and Woodlands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S4S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Iridopsis vellivolata - Large Purplish Gray Moth

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

Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-22
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-10
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-14
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-13
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-13
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-02
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-05-10
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2023-05-10
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-08-02
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-25
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Lior Carlson, Becky Watkins, Richard Teper, Stephen Dunn on 2022-07-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-19
Chowan Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-20
Caswell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-02
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-18
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-05-03
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-03-30
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-03-23
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-08-02
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2021-07-22
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-07-17
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-23
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-20
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-10
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-05
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-04
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-04-30
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-04-11
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-04-09
Wake Co.
Comment: