Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Ilexia Members:	625 NC Records

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

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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, BOLD

Technical 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) 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: 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

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

	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-08-16 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-02 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-29 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Dale Morgan, Patrick Coin, Julie Tuttle, Becky Watkins, et al. on 2025-07-26 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-13 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Melody McMichael on 2025-06-26 Forsyth Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-07 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-06 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-30 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-21 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-16 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-15 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-04-30 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-29 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25 Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-24 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-22 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Steve Taylor on 2025-04-16 Beaufort Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-06 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-05 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2025-04-04 Onslow Co. Comment: