Moths of North Carolina

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Phigalia strigataria (Minot, 1869) - Small Phigalia

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Ennominae

Tribe:
Bistonini

P3 Number:
91a1078

MONA Number:
6660.00

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,including North Carolina specimens, 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, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Rindge (1975)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al.(2001); Wagner (2005)

Adult Markings: Phigalia are among the very few geometrids that fly during mid-winter to early spring. Males 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 strigataria, the postmedian line is often fragmentary but definitely toothed, particularly towards the costa. The portion of the postmedian close to the inner margin is usually fairly straight or gently incurved towards the median line but not strongly bulging as in denticulata (Covell, 1984). Strigataria is generally less mottled than Phigalia denticulata and is often tinged with an olive or greenish shade. Females of all three species of Phigalia have stubby, non-functional wings (which are virtually absent in female Alsophila and Paleacrita). Females of strigataria are similar to those of titea but are smaller and browner, "with practically no pale gray scaling on the head, thorax, or wings (Rindge, 1975).

Forewing Length: 14-18 mm, males, 0.8-1.2 mm, females (Rindge, 1975)

Adult Structural Features: Both male and female strigataria possess strong spines on the dorsal surface of the abdomen, unlike titea but similar to denticulata (Forbes, 1948). The spine on the male aedeagus is much larger and straighter than in the other two species, and more strongly pointed (see Rindge, 1975, for a key and illustrations). The wings of the females are very short, from 0.8 to 1.2 mm in length (Rindge, 1975).

Genitalia and other structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Larvae of strigataria usually brown, with or without orange patches; see illustrations in Wagner et al. (2001) and Wagner (2005). Pupation occurs in the soil or litter.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Probably occurs statewide, including the Outer Banks and High Mountains

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
Immature 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: Has a single late winter/early spring flight. Emerges later than P. denticulata but overlaps both that species and Phigalia titea.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Appears to occupy wetter habitats than the other two species of Phigalia, occurring more often in floodplain forests in both the Coastal Plain and Piedmont. However, it also occurs in maritime scrub habitats and xeric sandhills, although we do not have records from longleaf pine savannas or flatwoods or from peatland habitats. Occurs in wooded residential neighborhoods as well as natural areas.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous on hardwood trees and shrubs. Wagner et al. (2001) specifically list blueberry (Vaccinium), chestnut (Castanea), elm (Ulmus), hazelnut (Corylus), maple (Acer), oak (Quercus), and willow (Salix). In the North Carolina Coastal Plain, J.B. Sullivan has found larvae on Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis), and Laurel Oak (Q. laurifolia). We also have records for Allegheny Chinquapin (Castanea pumila), Scarlet Oak (Q. coccinea), and Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesqueanum). - 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 but usually only in small numbers; our records show a maximum of 5 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: This species appears to be broadly distributed in the state and occupies a wide range of habitats. It thus appears to be secure.

Photo Gallery for Phigalia strigataria - Small Phigalia

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

	Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2026-03-01 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2026-02-22 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2026-02-21 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2026-02-21 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2026-02-21 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2026-02-21 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2026-02-20 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2026-02-19 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2026-02-19 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2026-02-19 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2026-02-18 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2026-01-07 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2026-01-06 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2026-01-06 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-19 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-19 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-27 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-03-26 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-03-19 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-18 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-03-15 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-13 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-03-12 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-03-01 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-02-28 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-02-26 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-02-26 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-02-26 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-02-26 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen on 2025-02-26 Orange Co. Comment: