Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Ennomos Members:	58 NC Records
Ennomos magnaria Guenée, [1858] - Maple Spanworm Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily: Geometroidea	Family: Geometridae	Subfamily: Ennominae	Tribe: Ennomini	P3 Number: 911227.00	MONA Number: 6797.00
Comments: A moderately large (17 species) and peculiar Asian genus with species in Europe and North America. Two species reach North Carolina.
Species Status: North Carolina specimens have been barcoded and are similar to those from other locations throughout the eastern US.

Identification

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

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)

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

Adult Markings: One of our most spectacular Geometrids, this large, stout yellow-orange and brown species is likely a fall yellow leaf mimic. Sexes are similar. It is likely to be confused only with our two species of Selenia, which are similar in size, coloration, and scalloped wing margins. However, both of our Selenias fly earlier in the year, with only a small amount of overlap between magnaria and Selenia kentaria in the late summer. Selenia kentaria can be distinguished by the presence of pale bands or frosting on both the lower and upper surfaces of the wings, which is absent in magnaria.

Wingspan: 50-55 mm (Forbes, 1948)

Adult Structural Features: Both males and females have distinct genitalia though dissection should rarely be needed to confirm its identity.

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The caterpillar is a robust brown-and-green twig mimic with swellings over A3 and A5 (see Wagner et al., 2001, for illustrations and a more detailed description). Eggs overwinter.

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

Distribution in North Carolina


Distribution: The majority of our records come from the Mountains, including from high elevations. It is apparently more sparsely distributed in the Piedmont and also occurs in the Outer Coastal Plain. It thus probably has a statewide distribution.
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

Ennomos magnaria Guenée, [1858] - Maple Spanworm Moth