Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members:
Tetracis Members:
146 NC Records

Tetracis cachexiata Guenée, [1858] - White Slant-Line Moth

Tetracis cachexiataTetracis cachexiataTetracis cachexiata
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: OurapteryginiP3 Number: 91a1410 MONA Number: 6964.00
Comments: One of thirteen species in this genus that occur in North America (Ferris and Schmidt, 2010), two of which are found in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Ferris and Schmidt (2010)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Both species of Tetracis that occur in North Carolina are moderately large, pale species, angular-winged Geometrids with a single straight line (postmedian) crossing their forewings from inner margin all the way to the apex or to the costa just in front of the apex. Other similarly sized, pale Geometrids with a strong transverse line either have more than one line or the line terminates or makes a sharp bend before it reaches the apex. Tetracis cahexiata is a glossier, purer white or ivory than crocallata, which has a stronger yellowish or cream shading. It also lacks the brown dusting and discal spots found in crocallata and the transverse line is usually narrower and a lighter, more yellowish brown.
Wingspan: 40 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Antennae are filiform in both sexes, although the males' are somewhat fasciculate.
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.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Forests and woodlands (Wagner et al., 2001). We have records from mesic, dry, and shoreline forests in the Piedmont and riparian, cove, and northern hardwood forests in the Mountains.
Larval Host Plants: Widely polyphagous, feeding on a large number of hardwood trees and shrubs as well as conifers, including pine, fir, hemlock, spruce, and larch (Wagner et al., 2001). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S4S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Tetracis cachexiata - White Slant-Line Moth

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-13
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-12
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-11
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-05
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-04-29
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2023-06-16
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2023-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-09
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-05
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-04
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-12
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-27
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-05-18
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-05-17
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Katie Ann Brown on 2021-04-23
Gaston Co.
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Recorded by: Katie Ann Brown on 2021-04-23
Gaston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Katie Ann Brown on 2021-04-23
Gaston Co.
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Recorded by: Heather Burditt on 2020-05-30
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-13
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-05-16
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-05-10
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2019-05-06
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-05-04
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-03
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2018-05-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-12
Madison Co.
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