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

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


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: CaberiniP3 Number: 911132.00 MONA Number: 6711.00 MONA Synonym: Thysanopyga intractata
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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, 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.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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