Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: 485 NC Records

Iridopsis defectaria (Guenée, [1858]) - Brown-shaded Gray Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: BoarmiiniP3 Number: 911004.00 MONA Number: 6586.00
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.
Species Status: This is one of the larger members of this genus in North Carolina, similar in size and pattern to I. vellivolata -- both have reddish brown shading before the antemedian and following the postmedian -- but having a definite whitish ground color rather than the bluish or purplish color of vellivolata. The pale form of pergracilis is similar in ground color and shading, but has a less undulating postmedian, particular at M2 and C2.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Anacamptodes defectaria)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA                                                                                 
Forewing Length: 13-20 mm, males; 16-22 mm, females (Rindge, 1966)
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: Habitats include barrens, forests, and woodlands (Wagner et al., 2001). Our records come from a wide range of hardwood forests, maritime habitats, Longleaf Pine ecosystems, and peatlands.
Larval Host Plants: Polyphagous, larvae feed on a wide range of hardwood trees; also on Gale (Wagner et al., 2001)
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Shrublands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S5
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 defectaria - Brown-shaded Gray Moth

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

Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-01-02
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-12-30
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-12-27
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-12-17
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2021-12-17
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-12-11
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-10-25
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-10-21
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-10-16
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2021-09-27
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-09-27
Sampson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-09-27
Sampson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-09-27
Sampson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-08-27
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2021-08-01
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-29
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2021-07-22
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2021-07-16
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-06
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2021-06-07
Moore Co.
Comment: Large, pale female at beer-banana bait
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-23
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-18
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-05-14
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-09
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-06
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-03
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-03-22
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-03-17
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-17
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-03-13
Durham Co.
Comment: