Moths of North Carolina
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Prochoerodes Members:
655 NC Records

Prochoerodes lineola (Goeze, 1781) - Large Maple Spanworm Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: OurapteryginiP3 Number: 911432.00 MONA Number: 6982.00 MONA Synonym: Prochoerodes transversata
Comments: A moderately large genus primarily of the tropics with some 34 species, of which 7 have been recorded in the US and one reaching North Carolina. Phenotypically, they are all very similar and our species is no exception.
Species Status: Specimens from several localities in North Carolina have been bar-coded and fall into the narrow range of variation found throughout the species in the US (Western species require revision). Many neotropical members of the genus have the forewing truncated and that character does show up infrequently in our populations but barcoding indicates such individuals are conspecific with the normal wing form. For many years our species was called P. transversata (e.g., Covell, 1984), which is now considered a synonym of lineola.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Prochoerodes transversata); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948; as Sabulodes transversata)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner et al. (2001); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A large Geometrid likely to be confused only with Eutrapela, which has scalloped wing margins, whereas they are smooth in Prochoerodes.
Wingspan: 50 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Genitalia are unique among North Carolina Geometrids and certainly characteristic of our species. There is also an abdominal comb which is absent in Eutrapela.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Caterpillars look very much like those of Eutrapela but their smoother integument is usually decorated with bluish, cloud-like patterns. The head is not retracted as dramatically as in Eutrapela.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Recorded from 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.
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: Our collection dates indicate there are at least two broods with adults found primarily in early summer and early fall. This is consistent with migratory species but may also indicate that a few pupae survive the winters. In Florida and southern Georgia they appear to occur more frequently in the early spring months.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Recorded from essentially all habitats within the state, open beach dunes to high elevation spruce-fir forests.
Larval Host Plants: Wagner (2001) list the broad expanse of plants from grasses to trees where caterpillars have been found. We have reared it in Craven County from Ilex opaca.
Observation Methods: Adults seem to come readily to light but not to bait.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Fields
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: We suspect that few individuals overwinter in North Carolina and that we get annual migrations in the spring that are able to establish temporary, but recurrent breeding populations throughout the state. In any case, this species is so widespread and its host plant and habitat range so great that it appears to be quite secure in North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Prochoerodes lineola - Large Maple Spanworm Moth

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

Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-10-30
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-10-24
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-10-15
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-10-04
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-24
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-17
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Ed Corey on 2022-09-17
Martin Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-09-09
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-09-04
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-09-01
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2022-08-15
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2022-07-24
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-02
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-06-29
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-21
Caswell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-16
Jackson Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-06-15
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-12
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-06-06
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-01
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-05-30
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-05-30
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-05-29
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-29
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-05-18
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-10-21
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-10-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-10-08
Madison Co.
Comment: