Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Cabera Members:	15 NC Records
Cabera erythemaria Guenée, [1858] - Yellow-dusted Cream Moth

view caption

Taxonomy

Superfamily: Geometroidea	Family: Geometridae	Subfamily: Ennominae	Tribe: Caberini	P3 Number: 91a1087	MONA Number: 6677.00
Comments: The genus Cabera as currently conceived is found in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Some 30 species are known of which 5 occur in the United States and 3 are found in North Carolina.
Species Status: No specimens from North Carolina have been examined but C. erythemaria from other, more northern parts of its range barcode as a single, distinct species.

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 (1956); McGuffin (1981)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner et al. (2001)

Adult Markings: A medium-sized, cream colored Geometrid usually marked with three buff-colored lines. Keys for specimens of Cabera from North America are given in Forbes (1948), Rindge (1956), and McGuffin (1981). For the most part, however, they do not work for our individuals of C. erythemaria and C. variolaria, both of which can be marked with well defined crosslines or be almost entirely white. For males the color of the pectens is the best external character: white in C. erythemaria and black in C. variolaria (with the occasional white scale). Easily confused with other small white geometrids such as Lomographa vestialata (smaller, pearly white, no pectinations), Gueneria similaria (orangish wash), Scopula ordinata (larger, pointed forewings), and perhaps worn specimens of Speranza pustularia (crosslines reddish and widening at costa).

Wingspan: 28 mm (Forbes, 1948)

Forewing Length: 12-16 mm, males; 12-15 mm, females (Rindge, 1956)

Adult Structural Features: Antennae are pectinate in the males, simple in the females. The pectinate antennae helps distinguish males of this species from those of Lomograpa, Gueneria, and Scopula, all of which have simple antennae. The absence of the basal valve projection distinguish males from other species in this genus. We have not been able to study females from North Carolina, but McGuffin (1981) figures the distinct female genitalia, which have a much smaller ostial opening than the other species and the sclerotization on the bursa is arranged in a distinct encircling band.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: Larvae are green and pink with squarish heads and a series of paired, mid-dorsal spots (see Wagner et al, for an illustration and more detailed description). Caterpillars of C. erythemaria and C. variolaria may be indistinguishable and should be reared to adulthood in order to determine their identity (Wagner et al., 2001).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina


Distribution: All of our records come from the Mountains. However, we have no validated records from the northern counties and there is no known reason why its distribution apparently is so limited 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: We have records from late May through August indicating multiple broods

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Associated with Populus and Salix elsewhere but in North Carolina so far only with Salix and the open, streamside habitats where willow is usually common. We have collected both C. erythemaria and C. variolaria at the same location and therefore have no clues as to whether these species have different habitat preferences. The absence of this species from all more northern locations in the mountains is curious.

Larval Host Plants: Both willow (Salix) and poplar (Populus) are used further north. Although we have no larval records in North Carolina, adults have been collected only in the vicinity of willows. - View

Observation Methods: Adults readily come to light and can be flushed near willows during the day. It is unlikely they respond to baits.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for Montane Shoreline Shrub Thickets

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S3S4]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: We have records from only scattered sites, with confirmed records coming only from the southern half of the mountains. However, its habitats and host plants are widespread in this region and it is observed regularly at some sites.

Cabera erythemaria Guenée, [1858] - Yellow-dusted Cream Moth