Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Nematocampa Members: 205 NC Records

Nematocampa resistaria (Herrich-Schäffer, [1856]) - Horned Spanworm Moth

Nematocampa resistariaNematocampa resistariaNematocampa resistariaNematocampa resistaria
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Ennominae		Tribe:
Cassymini		P3 Number:
91a1461		 MONA Number:
7010.00		 Other Common Name:
Filament Bearer
Comments: One of three species in this genus that occur north of Mexico (Ferguson, 2008), two of which are found in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Nematocampa limbata); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (2008)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2001); Wagner (2005); Ferguson (2008)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A moderately small geometrid with a pale yellowish (males) or cream (females) ground color, overlain with a reticulated pattern of fine brown lines. The subterminal and terminal areas are typically dark brown, but with the apical area similar in color and pattern to the medial and basal areas. Transverse lines are dark brown and conspicuous.
Forewing Length: Wing length is generally more than 10 mm (Ferguson, 2008)
Adult Structural Features: Males with enlarged hind tibiae, whose inner spurs are elongated, flattened, and clubbed (Forbes, 1954; Ferguson, 2008). Genitalia are distinctive (see illustrations and discussion in Ferguson, 2008).
Genitalia and other structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae (Filament Bearers) possess distinctive pairs of white-tipped, extensible filaments that project from the dorsal surface of segments A2 and A3 (Wagner et al., 2001; Wagner, 2005; Ferguson, 2008), The body is mottled with patches of white, pale gray, brown, and black.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Appears to occur statewide, from the Barrier Islands to the High Mountains
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Nematocampa resistariaAlamance 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.