Moths of North Carolina
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Common Name:
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Melanolophia Members: 284 NC Records

Melanolophia signataria (Walker, 1860) - Signate Melanolophia

Melanolophia signatariaMelanolophia signatariaMelanolophia signataria
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Ennominae		Tribe:
Melanolophiini		P3 Number:
91a1041		 MONA Number:
6621.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-sized, brown Geometrid that is very similar to Melanolophia canadaria. "Usually distinguished by its smoother look, more complete and less wavy markings and brown tint" (Forbes, 1948). The postmedian is continuous and not waved, slanting in to 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, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: The right and left processes of the valves in the male are strongly asymmetric in this species, with the left process much longer than the right and having a straight rather than curved tip. In M. canadaria, the two processes are similar in length and appearance (illustrated in Rindge, 1964). Female M. signataria can be recognized by the very long, slender, well-sclerotized, rod-like lamella postvaginalis (illustrated in Rindge).
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Melanolophia signatariaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from a wide range of forests, from maritime forests to northern hardwoods.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae have been recorded on a wide range of tree species, including both conifers and hardwoods. Covell (1984) specifically lists fir (Abies), maple (Acer), alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), larch (Larix), spruce (Picea), poplar (Populus), oak (Quercus), and elm (Ulmus). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S5]
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 signataria - Signate Melanolophia

Photos: 25
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-28
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-28
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-25
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-09
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2023-03-27
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2023-03-23
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Vin Stanton on 2023-03-05
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-06-17
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-04-29
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2021-04-09
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Stephen Hall on 2016-04-12
Hoke Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Steve Hall on 2015-04-17
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: J.Phillips on 2015-04-05
Wake Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: T. Nergart, ID by T. Desantis on 2015-04-04
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Steve Hall on 2015-03-24
Orange Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2014-12-31
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Doug Blatny / Jackie Nelson on 2011-04-30
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: T. DeSantis on 2011-03-20
Camden Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: E. Corey and S. Bland on 2007-03-24
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Newman, Randy on 2005-04-20
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: Newman, Randy on 2005-03-30
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia signatariaRecorded by: SPH on 1995-04-26
Onslow Co.
Comment: Confirmed by dissection