Moths of North Carolina
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374 NC Records

Besma quercivoraria (Guenée, [1858]) - Oak Besma Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: OurapteryginiP3 Number: 911324.00 MONA Number: 6885.00
Comments: This genus currently contains 7 species named from Central and North America, and additional neotropical species await description. Two species occur in North Carolina.
Species Status: Multiple specimens have been barcoded and nest with those from elsewhere, no evidence of unrecognized species. It differs from B. endropiaria be about 1.4% or less than one usually finds between congeneric species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-sized, variably orange-brown Geometrid. Sexes are dimorphic. Males are heavily shaded with brown, particularly beyond the postmedian, but often with a pale apical patch; the antemedian and postmedian both bend towards one another in the median area and are often joined by a bar. Females are generally much paler and lack the connecting bar between the lines; the lines are also more evenly curved and are often bordered with reddish-orange. Males are most likely confused with some species in Euchlaena but possess a more angled outer margin, giving the wing tip a squared-off appearance. Some particularly pale females are similar to those of endropiaria, but have more strongly angled outer margins on both wings and more falcate forewing apices.
Wingspan: 35 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Similar only to those of E. endropiaria and apparently different by the more diaphanous valve tip and the female ostial plate.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs statewide, except possibly the Barrier Islands
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)

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Flight Comments: At least three broods occur in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The vast majority of our records come from wet-to-mesic stands of hardwood forests. In the Coastal Plain, these include bottomland and lakeshore stands, and dry-mesic stands that occur along seldom-burned bluffs. Conversely, records are absent from the Barrier Islands and rare in peatlands and Longleaf Pine habitats, particularly dry-to-xeric sandhills, although we have found larvae feeding on Bluejack Oak, which is associated with at least somewhat loamy sandhills. Records come from a wider range of upland hardwoods in the Piedmont, although again with most coming from bottomlands and mesic slopes. In the Mountains, records are plentiful from riparian forests, cove forests, northern hardwoods, but with again some coming from drier ridge-tops.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae reported from oaks, maples and other hardwood trees as well as conifers. We have reared larvae found on Blue Jack Oak (Quercus incana) in Carteret and Craven Counties. Definitive non-oak records are needed.
Observation Methods: Adults have been found at lights and may come to baits but no records known.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species occurs over most of the state and is associated with a wide range of hardwood-dominated habitat types. Consequently, it appears to be quite secure in North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Besma quercivoraria - Oak Besma Moth

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

Recorded by: Rusty James & Michael P. Morales on 2023-08-24
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-13
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Bo Sullivan on 2023-08-08
Wilkes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-22
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-20
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-07-11
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-02
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Z. Lloyd on 2023-06-20
Wayne Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-22
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-05-12
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-08
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall, David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-29
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-04-28
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-04-16
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2023-04-07
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-04-04
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2023-03-24
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-03-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: chuck smith on 2023-03-09
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2022-09-29
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-07-24
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-07-16
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-30
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-16
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-06-12
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: