Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha): Choose a Family

Home

View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Melanolophia Members:	1125 NC Records

Melanolophia canadaria (Guenée, [1858]) - Canadian Melanolophia

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Ennominae

Tribe:
Melanolophiini

P3 Number:
91a1040

MONA Number:
6620.00

Other Common Name:
Variable Redmarked Looper

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Adult Markings: A medium-sized, brownish Geometrid that is very similar to Melanolophia signataria. The ground color is whitish in northern specimens but is darker in the South, heavily dusted with fucsous and often with blackish blotches in the terminal area (Forbes, 1948; Rindge, 1964). The postmedian is waved or outwardly dentate on the veins and usually represented by the preceding dark line; its course is strongly curved in towards the inner margin. During the spring, when both species fly at the same time, dissection is often needed to distinguish them.

Wingspan: 30-35 mm (Forbes, 19448)

Adult Structural Features: The right and left processes of the valves of the male are nearly equal in length in this species, whereas in signataria, the left process is much longer and has a straight rather than curved tip (illustrated in Rindge, 1964). In female canadaria, the lamella postvaginalis a weakly sclerotized elongate projection, often weakly bifurcate at apex, shorter than lamella antevaginalis. In signataria, the lamella postvaginalis is very long, slender, well-sclerotized, and rod-like (illustrated in Rindge, 1964).

Structural photos

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 polyphagous, feeding on a very wide range of hardwood trees and shrubs; also on pines (Wagner, 2005). As of 2024, we have records for Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and Sassafras (Sassafras album). J.B. Sullivan also reared larvae from Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), cherry (Prunus), walnut (Juglans), and azalea (Rhododendron). - View

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [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 Melanolophia canadaria - Canadian Melanolophia

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-27 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-08 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-08 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-07-03 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-06-30 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-26 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-22 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-21 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-06-18 Alamance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-07 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-30 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka 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: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-18 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-16 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-16 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-16 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-03 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-23 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2025-04-04 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-03 Madison Co. Comment: Male (dissected).		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-03 Madison Co. Comment: Male genitalia.