Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Probole Members: 466 NC Records

Probole amicaria (Herrich-Schäffer, [1855]) - Friendly Probole


Probole amicariaProbole amicariaProbole amicariaProbole amicaria
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea
Family:
Geometridae
Subfamily:
Ennominae
Tribe:
Anagogini
P3 Number:
91a1183
MONA Number:
6838.00
Other Common Name:
Red-cheeked Looper
Species Status: This is a highly variable species, with differences in color and pattern existing between populations and between broods of the same population. Consequently, there has been a long history of disagreement among taxonomists as to how many species are actually represented (see Tomon, 2008, for a review). Based on a comparison of specimens across the range of this complex, Tomon found no differences in genitalia or other structural characters and found no separation into distinct lineages based on analysis of mitochondrial DNA. Furthermore, he found that offspring of females of one morphological type could produce offspring belonging to other forms. Apart from populations of "nepiasaria", no geographic or phenological correlations could be found to justify the treatment of the different forms as distinct species. We mainly concur with Tomon's results and treat the forms previously described as "alienaria", "nyssaria", and "amicaria" as belonging to a single species, with the name Probole amicaria having apparent taxonomic priority (see Tomon, 2008). However, there are still sufficient ecological and biogeographic data to indicate that Probole nepisiaria may be distinct, despite its apparent lack of genitalic or mDNA differences from P. amicaria. Consequently, we continue to treat nepiasaria separately, particularly since some disjunct populations are of possible conservation concern.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Wingspan: 25-30 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Probole amicariaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Forests, woodlands, shrubby fields, and wetlands (Wagner et al., 2001). Our records come from a wide range of hardwood-dominated habitats, with few coming from Longleaf Pine habitats or peatlands.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of hardwood trees and shrubs; also reported on spruce (Wagner et al., 2001). Specific hosts include maple (Acer), alder (Alnus), serviceberry (Amelanchier), Flowering Dogwood (Benthamidia florida), birch (Betula), American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), beech (Fagus), willow (Salix), American Basswood (Tilia americana), and elm (Ulmus). In North Carolina, J.B. Sullivan reared a larva from an unidentified dogwood. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Probole amicaria - Friendly Probole

131 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Probole amicariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27
Rowan Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25
Mitchell Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25
Mitchell Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20
Richmond Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-11
Madison Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-18
Buncombe Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-22
Madison Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-16
Chatham Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05
Chatham Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-03
Buncombe Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07
Transylvania Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-27
Rowan Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-26
Orange Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-26
Orange Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-07-11
Madison Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-29
Madison Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-29
Rowan Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-25
McDowell Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-25
Yancey Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Owen McConnell and Simpson Eason on 2024-06-21
Graham Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Owen McConnell and Simpson Eason on 2024-06-20
Graham Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19
Madison Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-15
Scotland Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-24
Madison Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-15
Madison Co.
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Probole amicariaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-14
Buncombe Co.
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