Moths of North Carolina
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1108 NC Records

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

Melanolophia canadariaMelanolophia canadariaMelanolophia canadariaMelanolophia canadaria
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.
Melanolophia canadaria
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

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

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-30
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka 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: 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.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-02
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-30
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-28
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2025-03-27
Harnett Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-03-19
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-03-19
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-03-19
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall on 2025-03-15
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-03-13
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2025-03-12
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-03-12
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-12
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-03-11
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-02-28
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-02-04
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-12-18
Orange Co.
Comment: