Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members:
Eufidonia Members:
21 NC Records

Eufidonia convergaria (Walker, 1860) - Pine Powder Moth

Eufidonia convergariaEufidonia convergariaEufidonia convergariaEufidonia convergaria
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: MelanolophiiniP3 Number: 91a1020 MONA Number: 6637.00
Comments: One of three species in this genus that occur in North America, two of which have been recorded in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Not in either field guideOnline Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: McGuffin (1977)Technical Description, Immature Stages: McGuffin (1977); Wagner et al. (2001); Maeir et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Both of our species of Eufidonia are medium-small Geometrids with a ground color that ranges from powdery white to yellowish overlain with a variable amount of brown dusting. A black discal spot is present on both pairs of wings and fairly diffuse antemedian, median, and postmedian lines are present; a wavy white band is usually present in the subterminal area, followed by a dark brown band extending to the outer margin. The fringe is usually checkered with dark bands interrupted by narrow white streaks. These patterns strongly overlap between the species, who also show the same range of variation. Adults are not safely separated solely on the basis of wing markings.
Adult Structural Features: The key provided by McGuffin (1977) separates convergaria and notataria based on the terminal process of the male sacculus: this process is narrow in covergaria and broad and rounded in notataria (see McGuffin's Figure 204 for a comparison).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Immatures and Development: Caterpillars are dark green with pale subdorsal and spiracular stripes. According to McGuffin (1977) and Maeir et al. (2011), the subspiracular stripe in convergaria lacks the any red edging, which is present in notataria. Wagner et al. (2001), however, state that the larvae of the two species cannot be reliably distinguished.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Confined to the Mountains in North Carolina
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
Flight Comments: Our records for this species are limited but it may have two distinct flights in North Carolina.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come primarily from slopes and ridges rather than from cove and riparian forests where notataria primarily occurs.
Larval Host Plants: Stenophagous, feeding on White Pine and other species of pines (McGuffin, 1977; Wagner et al., 2001; Maier et al., 2011). Eastern White Pine is the main host plant according to Maier et al., but Wagner et al. suggest that they may also feed on other genera of conifers. - View
Observation Methods: Adults fly during the day (McGuffin, 1967) but also come to blacklights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for White Pine Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 [S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: The distribution and abundance of this moth in North Carolina are poorly known and may be somewhat confounded with that of the close look-alike, E. notataria. The fact that it feeds on White Pines, as well as possibly on other species of pines, suggests that it is at least not limited by host plants or habitats.

 Photo Gallery for Eufidonia convergaria - Pine Powder Moth

Photos: 6

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-04-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2016-06-14
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. Nergart on 2015-05-18
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Ed Corey on 2015-05-16
Alleghany Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall and Ed Corey on 2015-05-16
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: SPH on 1998-06-01
Macon Co.
Comment: Male