Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Iridopsis Members:	102 NC Records

Iridopsis humaria (Guenée, [1858]) - Small Purplish Gray

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Ennominae

Tribe:
Boarmiini

P3 Number:
91a0984

MONA Number:
6584.00

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 humaria); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Adult Markings: A small gray and one of only two members of this genus with a bluish or purplish ground color. Distinguished from vellivolata by its smaller size and the black ring followed by a white band on the basal segment of the abdomen (Forbes, 1948). As in most other members of this genus, the postmedian has a definite bulge at C2 with a concavity above and below it, distinguishing this species from Anavitrinella pampinaria which also has a basal white band on the first segment of the abdomen (Forbes, 1948).

Wingspan: 28 mm (Forbes, 1948)

Forewing Length: 11-17, males; 13-17 mm, females (Rindge, 1966)

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

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
Immature 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 are highly polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of both woody and herbaceous species. Wagner et al. (2001) specifically list birch (Betula), hickory (Carya), Sweet-fern (Comptonia peregrina), persimmon (Diospyros), Soybean (Glycine max), walnut (Juglans), pear (Pyrus), oak (Quercus), blackberry (Rubus), goldenrod (Solidago), and clover (Trifolium). The host plants used in North Carolina have not been recorded. - View

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Fields

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 SNR [S3S4]

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 humaria - Small Purplish Gray

Photos: 11

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-04-27 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2021-04-07 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-07-23 Orange Co. Comment: Wingspan = 33 mm
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2016-03-15 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: ASH on 2013-05-01 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2008-03-18 Camden Co. Comment: