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

Eufidonia notataria (Walker, 1860) - Powder Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: MelanolophiiniP3 Number: 911040.00 MONA Number: 6638.00
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: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: 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), larvae of notataria possess a red subspiracular stripe that is absent in convergaria. 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: Restricted 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: There appears to be just one late spring flight in North Carolina.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of our records come from mesic stands of mixed hemlocks and hardwoods below the Spruce-Fir zone, including cove and riparian forests. This suggests that Hemlocks is being used as the main host in North Carolina.
Larval Host Plants: Oligophagous, feeding on a variety of coniferous species. McGuffin (1977) and Maier et al. (2011) list Spruce, Fir, Hemlock, and Larch. Wagner et al. (2001) state that other conifers may be used in addition. - View
Observation Methods: Adults fly during the day (McGuffin, 1967) but also come to blacklights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Hemlock Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: [W3]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S2S3
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands. Due to the threats to two of its most important host plants, we recommend that this species be added to the NHP Watch List.
Comments: There are relatively few records for this species in North Carolina, all from the mountains, and it is likely to be significantly threatened by the decline of both Fraser Fir and Eastern Hemlocks due to the depredations of Wooly Adelgids. It's survival will probably depend on the degree to which populations can be maintained on Spruce alone.

 Photo Gallery for Eufidonia notataria - Powder Moth

Photos: 1

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-05-01
Madison Co.
Comment: Determined by J.B. Sullivan based on dissection.