Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members:
Lytrosis Members:
130 NC Records

Lytrosis unitaria (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854) - Common Lytrosis Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: AngeroniniP3 Number: 911145.00 MONA Number: 6720.00
Species Status: Barcodes indicate a single species throughout its range.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: One of three very similar species which have been confused frequently, but which can be distinguished by following the course of the postmedian line on the forewing. In unitaria, the postmedian runs generally straight; although it may have a series of small waves, it lacks the deeper undulations found in sinuosa and heitzmanorum. In the hindwing of unitaria, the median band is black, broadened and similar to that found in L. heitzmanorum but absent in L. sinuosa. Females are similar but larger than males.
Adult Structural Features: As with the related genus Euchlaena, the genitalia rarely have clearcut differences. The genitalic features given in the review of the genus (Rindge, 1971) do not work well.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larva is described in Wagner et al. (2001). From eggs laid in June, larvae develop until September when they go into diapause probably on small oak branches. They awake in the spring and continue to feed probably pupating in the leaf litter.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This is the most far ranging species of Lytrosis in North Carolina. We need records for the middle part of the state but presumably the species is common everywhere at low and moderate altitudes. Upper altitude limits unknown but it probably ranges up to 3500'.
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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