Moths of North Carolina
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185 NC Records

Phigalia strigataria (Minot, 1869) - Small Phigalia

Phigalia strigatariaPhigalia strigatariaPhigalia strigatariaPhigalia strigataria
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, BOLDTechnical 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).
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.
Phigalia strigataria
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). - 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

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

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:
Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-02-25
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-02-25
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-02-24
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-04-20
Orange Co.
Comment: Feeding on Castanea pumila.
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-04-09
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-04-09
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-03-30
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-03-14
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2024-03-07
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-07
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2024-03-04
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-03-04
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-03-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-03-02
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2024-02-27
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-02-26
Orange Co.
Comment: