Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFGeometridae Members:
Gueneria Members:
102 NC Records

Gueneria similaria (Walker, 1860) - No Common Name


view caption
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: LithininiP3 Number: 911240.00 MONA Number: 6815.00
Comments: A monotypic genus restricted to eastern North America
Species Status: Numerous specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded and are similar to those from eastern Canada; there is no indication of multiple species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2001)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-small, pale yellowish-white Geometrid. The ground color of the forewings, as well as the head and body, is cream colored. The overall orange dusting in all but well-worn specimens is characteristic, usually forming three to four transverse bands. This species is apt to be confused with species of Cabera and maybe even Scopula. A black discal spot and brown postmedial spots on the undersides of the wings can be used to distinguish this species from Cabera (Forbes, 1948).
Wingspan: 25 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Male antennae are simple rather than pectinate as they are in Cabera. Worn females may need to be determined by venation differences or by dissection. Both males and females have distinct genitalia, which should easily separate them from similar species.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Caterpillars are rather nondescript but with multiple longitudinal lines. Abdominal segments narrowed anteriorly (see Wagner et al., 2001 for an illustration and more detailed description)
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: The species is found across the state but becomes less common with increasing altitude.
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: There are probably at least two broods
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: All of our records come from wet to mesic hardwood forests where there is an abundance of ferns. It has a wide elevational range in the mountains, where it occurs in riparian forests, cove forests, and northern hardwoods. In the Piedmont, it has been found on several monadnocks but also in lower areas with fern-rich slopes. Our few records from the Coastal Plain come either from mesic slopes adjoining brownwater floodplains or a few other relatively isolated stands of mesic hardwoods growing on slopes above blackwater rivers.
Larval Host Plants: This is a fern feeder and apparently not particularly choosy. However, we need specific records from North Carolina.
Observation Methods: Adults come to light but rarely in numbers. We have no records of adults at bait.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Fernlands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S3S4]
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 in the mountains, where it appears to be secure. In most of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, however, it has a more restricted distribution and is associated with cool mesic forests that are likely to be vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

 Photo Gallery for Gueneria similaria - No common name

Photos: 15

Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-08
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-04-23
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-07-27
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-05-21
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-19
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-19
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-07-18
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-04-03
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-09-14
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2019-06-09
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2019-06-09
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-27
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2018-08-11
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2018-08-10
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-22
Madison Co.
Comment: