Moths of North Carolina
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Euchlaena Members:
224 NC Records

Euchlaena madusaria (Walker, 1860) - Scrub Euchlaena

Euchlaena madusariaEuchlaena madusariaEuchlaena madusaria
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: AngeroniniP3 Number: 91a1211 MONA Number: 6731.00
Comments: One of sixteen species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Pohl et al., 2016), twelve of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948, as E. vinnulentaria); Rindge (1956b)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The medial and basal areas are pale yellow, dusted with dark brown, with the veins and transverse lines usually dark and contrasting (Rindge, 1956). The outer area of the forewings is variably shaded with dark brown but usually has a pale streak or patch at the apex. The postmedian is doubled in the middle on all four wings, forming a geminate loop; this is especially noticeable on the undersides of wings (Rindge, 1956). Note that Forbes, 1948, described E. astylusaria as having many of these traits, as well as having the same features of the male genitalia. As a subspecies of amoenaria, however -- as it was treated by Rindge -- astylusaria is distinguishable by the swollen hind tibiae and hair pencils in the males.
Wingspan: 35 mm (Forbes, 1948, as E. vinnulentaria)
Adult Structural Features: Males have non-swollen hind tibiae and lack a hair pencil, traits shared in Euchlaena only by E. deplanaria and E. irraria (Rindge, 1956). Forbes (1948) has a key to the male genitalia of Euchlaena that includes E. madusaria as vinulentaria. However, he does not indicate any differences between madusaria and astylusaria, which is now treated as a subspecies of amoenaria (see Rindge, 1956).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: All of our records come from the southern half of the Coastal Plain, including both the Fall-line Sandhills and Outer Coastal Plain
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: Recorded in North Carolina during most of the growing season, from late March to mid-October. The spring flight appears to be distinct, and there are also two peaks within the summer and fall period
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: All of our many records for this species come from Longleaf Pine habitats. Kons and Borth (2006) classify madusaria as a Xeric Oak-Pine habitat specialist, which is consistent with many of our records. However, we also have numerous records from wet-to-mesic savanna and flatwoods habitats. We consequently regard this species as more of a Longleaf Pine habitat generalist.
Larval Host Plants: McGuffin (1981) mentions records for Jack Pine, Douglas Fir, and Buffaloberry for Canadian populations. He also cites Woods for records on Blueberries. Based on the habitat preferences it displays in North Carolina, either Blueberries or Longleaf Pines seem possible as host plants here. - View
Observation Methods: Comes well to lights
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Longleaf Woodlands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 [S4S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is a specialist in Longleaf Pine habitats but is regularly occurring in those habitats. As with other Longleaf habitat specialists, madusaria has undergone a major reduction in its range due to over-exploitation and conversion of its habitats since European colonization. Its habitat also continues to be degraded due to the effects of fire suppression. Conservation of large, well-connected examples of its habitat is necessary for its survival, but it appears to be relatively secure within the tracts currently managed to keep them in a natural state.

 Photo Gallery for Euchlaena madusaria - Scrub Euchlaena

Photos: 7

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-18
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2022-08-28
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-09
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J. A. Anderson on 2020-09-21
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Alicia Jackson on 2020-05-15
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2016-04-29
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: ASH, NEW on 2011-08-25
Moore Co.
Comment: