Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Phigalia Members: 61 NC Records

Phigalia titea (Cramer, [1780]) - Half-wing Moth


Phigalia titeaPhigalia titea
view caption
Phigalia titea
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea
Family:
Geometridae
Subfamily:
Ennominae
Tribe:
Bistonini
P3 Number:
91a1076
MONA Number:
6658.00
Other Common Names:
The Half-wing, Spiny Looper, Half-Wing
Comments: One of four members of this genus that occur in North America, three of which are found in North Carolina
Species Status: Genetic bar-coding indicates that this species is homogeneous throughout its range, with no cryptic siblings.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Rindge (1975)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner et al., 2001; Wagner, 2005                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Phigalia are among the very few geometrids that fly during mid-winter to early spring. They can be distinguished from Alsophila and Paleacrita, which also fly during this period and are similarly pale gray, by their blackish antemedian, median, and postmedian lines. In Phigalia titea, the ground color is whiter than in the other two Phigalia, particularly in the median area, and more strongly contrasts with the clean-cut black lines (Forbes, 1948; Rindge, 1975); there is also, however, a melanic form that is more uniformly dark across the entire wing. The postmedian line is less scalloped or toothed than the other two species, although there may be dashes or thickenings at the veins that produce at least a slight jaggedness in an otherwise smoothly sinuous line. As in P. denticularia, the postmedian makes a bend towards the median line in the lower part of the wing but diverges from it at the inner margin. Females of all three species of Phigalia have stubby, non-functional wings (which are virtually absent in female Alsophila and Paleacrita). Females are grayish brown -- bronwer than in the males -- and with pale gray wings that often have a single dark cross bar (Rindge, 1975).
Forewing Length: 15 to 22 mm, males; 3 to 4 mm, females (Rindge, 1975)
Adult Structural Features: Both female and male titea possess smaller abdominal spines than are found in the other two species (Forbes, 1948); Rindge (1975) states that the abdomen is covered with flattened, deeply bifurcate scales rather than spines. The male aedeagus has a short but strong, coiled spine, unlike the straight or curved spines found in the other two species.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are a pale blue-gray with fine black longitudinal lines; a yellow subdorsal line is also present and yellow patches are located on the spiracles (Forbes, 1948; Wagner et al., 2001; Wagner, 2005). Pupation occurs in the soil or litter (Wagner et al. 2001).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs statewide, including both the Outer Banks and High Mountains. The lack of records over most of the state is probably due to its early flight period.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Phigalia titeaAlamance 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.
Immature 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: immatures.
Flight Comments: Single-brooded with adults flying only in the early spring. Emerges somewhat later than P. denticulata and strigataria but overlaps with them.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of our records come primarily from fairly dry habitats, including maritime forests and sandhills in the Coastal Plain, and dry ridges in the Mountains. However, we also have records from more mesic habitats, including lakeshores and peatlands; more sampling during the early part of the year will be needed to clarify its habitat associations.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous on woody trees and shrubs. Wagner et al. (2001) specifically list apple (Malus), basswood (Tilia), birch (Betula), blueberry and cranberry (Vaccinium), elm (Ulmus), hickory (Carya), maple (Acer), oak (Quercus), and poplar (Populus). In North Carolina, we have probable feeding records from hawthorn (Crataegus), Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), and Post Oak (Q. stellata). J.B. Sullivan reared larvae from Bluejack Oak (Quercus incana), Turkey Oak (Q. laevis), Live Oak, and Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum). - View
Observation Methods: Adults have short, non-functional mouthparts (Forbes, 1948); consequently, they do not come to bait or show up at flowers. They appear to come fairly well to blacklights, with large numbers occasionally captured in a single trap.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Shrublands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Given its wide range of larval host plants, broad habitat associations, and extensive occurrence across the state, this species appears to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Phigalia titea - Half-wing Moth

Photos: 28
Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-04
Madison Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2025-03-17
Carteret Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-03-13
Buncombe Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-03-31
Madison Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-03-08
Buncombe Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2023-04-11
Orange Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2023-04-02
Wake Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: tom ward on 2023-03-21
Buncombe Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-10-10
Transylvania Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-01-24
Transylvania Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2021-03-14
Carteret Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2021-03-14
Carteret Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2021-03-13
Carteret Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-03-14
Onslow Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-01-12
Guilford Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-03-11
Buncombe Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-03-11
Madison Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2016-05-04
Carteret Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2016-04-25
Carteret Co.
Comment: On Live Oak (Quercus virginiana). Identification is tentative pending the results of genetic barcoding. 24 mm.
Phigalia titeaRecorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2016-04-21
Carteret Co.
Comment: On Live Oak (Quercus virginiana). Identification is tentative pending the results of genetic barcoding. 20 mm.
Phigalia titeaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2015-03-16
McDowell Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2015-02-23
Mecklenburg Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-03-03
Dare Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2013-03-16
Transylvania Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2013-03-05
Transylvania Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Darryl Willis on 2012-02-09
Cabarrus Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Taylor Piephoff on 2010-02-23
Mecklenburg Co.
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Phigalia titeaRecorded by: Scott Hartley, Chris Helms, Steve Hall on 2000-03-22
Moore Co.
Comment: WEWO - Collected