Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Antepione Members:	151 NC Records

Antepione thisoaria (Guenée, [1858]) - Variable Antepione

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Ennominae

Tribe:
Ourapterygini

P3 Number:
91a1442

MONA Number:
6987.00

Comments: Eight species have been described in the genus, which ranges from Canada south at least to Costa Rica. Most species are found in our western states but one ranges from Costa Rica to North Carolina and northward.

Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina are similar to those from eastern US and eastern southern Canada. Variability in bar codes is minimum. There are synonyms of this species described from Guatemala and Costa Rica but the US records as displayed in Moth Photography Group would lead one to believe they are probably not conspecific with our species. According to Ferris (2010), thisoaria does not occur west of east Texas (95th meridian) and does not overlap with the western Antepione imitata.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948, as Sabulodes thisoaria); Ferris (2010)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner et al. (2001); Wagner (2005)

Adult Markings: Sexes are highly variable, with different seasonal and sexual forms. Members of the spring brood are typically grayish brown or all pale, whereas in the summer brood, individuals are marked with bright yellow (Forbes, 1948). Males usually have a brown shade past the postmedian line, which is usually distinct; in the summer brood, males are typically two-toned. Females usually are more concolorous, with a less distinct postmedian but with one or two dark spots along that line at the inner margin (Forbes, 1948). Most forms have a distinct apical patch, but that is usually much more contrasting in the females.

Wingspan: 35 mm (Forbes, 1948)

Adult Structural Features: Genitalia are distinct in both sexes, differing from any species in our area likely to be confused with this Antepione

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The caterpillars are stick mimics that are highly variable in color. Like Prochoerodes and the two Tetracis species, the larvae are characterized by flattened heads, thickened segments, and prominent warts. Larvae of all three of these genera may be confused with one another, although the technical criteria described by Wagner et al. (2001) may help identify them.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Most of our records come from the Mountains but there are also records from two Monadnocks in the western Piedmont, both of which have habitats similar to those found in the Blue Ridge

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: Has two distinct broods per year

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come from a variety of montane habitats, including monadnock forests in the Piedmont, and both dry ridges -- including rock outcrops -- and mesic forests in the Mountains. The elevational range is also quite large, ranging from below 2,000 feet at Crowders Mountain in the Piedmont to over 5,000 feet in the Great Smokies, Great Balsams, and Grandfather Mountain.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are reported from a wide variety of host plants including alder (Alnus), apple (Malus), cherry (Prunus), ninebark (Physocarpus), American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), sumac (Rhus), Viburnum, and bittersweet (Celastrus) (Wagner et al., 2001). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: This species comes well to lights and may come to bait, although we have no records for it doing so. Occasionally flushed during the day.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for Montane Forests and Shrublands

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species occurs widely throughout the Mountains, extending also into the western Piedmont. It is associated with both a large range of host plants and habitats within that region and appears to be quite secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Antepione thisoaria - Variable Antepione

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

	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-07-30 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-04-09 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-04-20 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-07-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-07-02 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-05-03 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-05-01 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2021-08-04 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-07-29 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-07-22 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-17 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-07 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen and Pat McConnell on 2018-07-12 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2018-07-10 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-06-30 McDowell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-04-15 Burke Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-03-27 McDowell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2016-08-02 Ashe Co. Comment: Summer brood female
	Recorded by: Steve Hall and Ed Corey on 2015-05-17 Wilkes Co. Comment:		Recorded by: T. Nergart on 2015-05-06 Transylvania Co. Comment: Spring brood male
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2014-07-17 McDowell Co. Comment: Summer brood male		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2013-08-04 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2013-07-29 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2013-05-02 Transylvania Co. Comment: