Moths of North Carolina
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 Family (Alpha):
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Eutrapela Members: 762 NC Records

Eutrapela clemataria (J.E. Smith, 1797) - Curve-toothed Geometer

Eutrapela clematariaEutrapela clematariaEutrapela clemataria
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Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Ennominae		Tribe:
Ourapterygini		P3 Number:
91a1422		 MONA Number:
6966.00		 Other Common Names:
Purplish-brown Looper, Curved-toothed Geometer Moth
Comments: A genus with just one species, which occurs abundantly throughout eastern North America, including all of North Carolina
Species Status: There is very little variation in nucleotide sequence from North Carolina or elsewhere; no cryptic species are suspected.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948; as Abbotana clemetaria)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner et al. (2001); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: One of our largest Geometrid moths. It is variable in pattern but usually dark brown with a conspicuous pale line that runs straight from the inner margin to just below the apex where in makes a sharp inward turn towards the costa. The apex of the wing is falcate and often has a pale patch. The inter-antennal ridge is a contrasting bright white. This species is is unlikely to be confused with anything other than Prochroedes, which is similar in size and pattern and sometimes in color, but has smooth wing margins as opposed to the crenulate margins of Eutrapela. Sexes similar but the female is much larger and far less common at light.
Wingspan: 45-60 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Male antennae are serrate. Reproductive structures of both the male and female are quite distinct from other large Geometrids.
Genitalia and other structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are twig mimics and easily recognized with practice; the older larvae are quite distinct with their knobby head region and warts over A4 and A8.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Occurs across the state, from the Barrier Islands to the High Mountains.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Eutrapela clematariaAlamance 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 Hanover 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.