Moths of North Carolina

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

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Ennominae

Tribe:
Ourapterygini

P3 Number:
91a1434

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 Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical 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
Immature 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: Larvae feed on a broad range of plants from grasses to trees. Wagner et al. (2001) specifically list fir (Abies), maple (Acer), birch (Betula), walnut (Juglans), larch (Larix), spruce (Picea), poplar (Populus), cherry (Prunus), oak (Quercus), currant (Ribes), willow (Salix), meadowsweet (Spiraea), dogwood, hemlock (Tsuga), blueberry (Vaccinium), and Viburnum. In North Carolina, we have reared it in Craven County from American Holly (Ilex opaca). Jeff Niznik also reared a larva found on greenbrier (Smilax) wrapped around a Black Cherry (Prunus serotina); both plants were accepted in captivity. Larvae have also been observed on Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), cherry, and buckthorn (Rhamnus). - View

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 SNR [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

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

	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-07-03 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-24 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-22 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-22 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-06-20 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-06-15 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-06-11 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-04 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-19 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-17 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-05-11 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-05-10 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-05-10 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-05-10 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-05-05 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-10-23 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-22 Wayne Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-10-07 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-10-03 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-25 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Larry Chen on 2024-09-23 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-09-23 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-21 Buncombe Co. Comment: