Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Ilexia Members: 635 NC Records

Ilexia intractata (Walker, [1863]) - Black-dotted Ruddy Moth

Ilexia intractataIlexia intractataIlexia intractata
view caption 		Ilexia intractata
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Ennominae		Tribe:
Caberini		P3 Number:
91a1119		 MONA Number:
6711.00		 MONA Synonym:
Thysanopyga intractata		Other Common Name:
Holly Looper
Comments: The genus Ilexia was created by Ferguson (2009) for the single species, I. intractata, which had previous been placed in Thysanopyga. It is a common member of the North Carolina fauna.
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been barare similar to those from elsewhere in its range, with no significant heterogeneity observed
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Thysanopyga intractata); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Ferguson (2009)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2001)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-small reddish Geometrid with variable dark and pale markings. The species is distinct and should be readily identified from illustrations. It might initially be confused with Episemasia but that species is distinctly smaller, noticeably different in maculation and on the wing only in the spring.
Wingspan: 25 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Males have bipectinate antennae and are smaller than females. The reproductive structures of both sexes are distinctive and can be used to verify identification
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Caterpillars are green with few distinguishing characters but have been the most common purely green caterpillars we have found on Ilex species.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found statewide.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Ilexia intractataAlamance 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: The species is active year long with adults being among the last species on the wing in the winter and first in the spring. Caterpillars are available throughout the year.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Near members of the genus Ilex virtually anywhere they are growing. We have records from maritime scrub habitats, peatlands, Longleaf Pine woodlands, floodplains, and dry ridges.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on hollies (Ilex spp.), with confirmed hosts in North Carolina including Inkberry (I. glabra), American Holly (I. opaca), and Yaupon Holly (I. vomitoria). - View
Observation Methods: Adults are one of the most common species in light trap catches throughout the year in the Coastal Plain. Occasionally they can be flushed during the day but we have not seen them at bait. The caterpillars can be beat from the foodplants on any warm day (over 50 degrees) in the winter as well as all year long. They are very difficult to find once the leaves of I. opaca harden but persist on the other Ilex species.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Holly Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNR [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is as widespread and abundant as are the hollies that it feeds upon. It appears to be quite secure within the state

 Photo Gallery for Ilexia intractata - Black-dotted Ruddy Moth

 332 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-10-08
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-05
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Stephanie Willis on 2025-10-01
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-26
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-09-19
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-18
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-09-07
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-23
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Marilyn Westphal and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-17
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-08-16
Orange Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: R. Teper, D. George, P. Coin, K. Bischof on 2025-08-16
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-02
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-29
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: David George, Dale Morgan, Patrick Coin, Julie Tuttle, Becky Watkins, et al. on 2025-07-26
Orange Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-13
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Melody McMichael on 2025-06-26
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-19
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-07
Durham Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-06
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-30
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-21
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-16
Durham Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-15
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-01
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-04-30
Durham Co.
Comment:
Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-29
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Ilexia intractata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25
Columbus Co.
Comment: