Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Campaea Members:	357 NC Records

Campaea perlata (Guenée, [1858]) - Pale Beauty

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Ennominae

Tribe:
Campaeini

P3 Number:
91a1130

MONA Number:
6796.00

Other Common Names:
Fringed Looper, American Light Emerald

Comments: The genus Campaea contains 5 species found in North America, Europe, India and China. Our single species is distributed over much of North America.

Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been bar-coded and are very similar to those from throughout the country other than a divergent group from the Pacific Northwest.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner et al. (2001)

Adult Markings: A medium-large, translucent whitish to pale green Geometrid; the sole markings are the relatively straight, antemedian and posmedian lines, both of which are white and bordered medially by green or greenish-brown. Sexes are similar. The species is quite distinct and unlikely to be confused with any other North American species. Tetracis cachexiata has a similar shape but its ground color is off white and the single crossline is dark and quite different in color from that of Campaea.

Wingspan: 35-50 mm (Forbes, 1948)

Adult Structural Features: Male antennae are bipectinate except at the apex, which is simple (Forbes, 1954). Pectinations are naked and are attached at the base of the antennal segments. Female antennae are fasciculate. Both pairs of spurs on the hind tibiae are well-developed. Male and female genitalia are quite distinct from those of any species likely to be confused with Campaea.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Caterpillars are twig mimics with lateral fringes, similar to many caterpillars of Catocala but quite different in shape (more rounded). An extra set of prolegs on A5 along with the fringe of hairs are distinctive (Wagner et al., 2001).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Associated with woodland habitats in the western half of our state, including monadnocks in the western Piedmont. The eastern limits of its distribution are largely unknown nor is it clear why it does not extend widely into the Piedmont or 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: The species begins flight in May and continues into October indicating at least two broods occur each year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come from a wide range of montane forests and from a variety of elevations, ranging from around 2000' to over 6000'.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide array of woody plants including some evergreens. Wagner et al. (2001) specifically list fir (Abies), maple (Acer), alder (Alnus), serviceberry (Amelanchier), birch (Betula), hazelnut (Corylus), larch (Larix), aspen (Populus), cherry (Prunus), oak (Quercus), rose (Rosa), willow (Salix), and hemlock (Tsuga). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: Adults readily come to light and can be flushed from the undergrowth during the day. Attraction to bait seems unlikely.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [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 widespread and common in the mountains, where it occupies a wide range of habitats and elevations. Currently, at least, it appears to be secure within the state, although like other montane species, may be affected by global climate change.

Photo Gallery for Campaea perlata - Pale Beauty

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-22 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-05-10 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-10-22 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-03 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-21 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-19 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-13 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-11 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2024-08-06 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-25 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-19 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-06-08 Jackson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-06 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2024-06-04 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-03 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2024-05-25 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-05-24 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-15 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-14 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-14 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-05-12 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-05-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-10-14 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-09-30 Graham Co. Comment: