Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Nemoria Members:	48 NC Records

Nemoria mimosaria (Guenée, [1858]) - White-fringed Emerald

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Geometrinae

Tribe:
Nemoriini

P3 Number:
91a0636

MONA Number:
7048.00

Other Common Name:
Flanged Looper

Comments: One of 35 species in this genus that occur in North America (Ferguson, 1985), nine of which have been recorded in North Carolina. Ferguson (1969) included mimosaria in his Bistriaria Species Group (VIII), which also includes bifilata, bistriaria, and rubrifrontaria in North Carolina, as well as eight others in the West.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (1969, 1985)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Ferguson (1969, 1985); Wagner et al. (2001); Maier et al. (2011)

Adult Markings: Nemoria mimosaria is a medium-sized, light pea-green Emerald; no reddish-brown spring form is known (Ferguson, 1985). The antemedial line is usually convex and waved; the postmedian is usually straight and even. No red terminal line is present and the fringe is typically pure white. A spot of pure white also exists at the base of the abdomen and is not surrounded by red as in other species of Nemoria. This spot, along with the lack of a terminal line and presence of all white fringes are diagnostic of this species. N. tuscarora is similar in size and color but lacks any white spots on the abdomen. N. rubrifrontaria has red-ringed spots on the abdomen and typically has a pinkish fringe.

Forewing Length: 10.5-14 mm, males; 12-14 mm, females (Ferguson, 1969)

Adult Structural Features: Fore-tibiae are reddish but lack the white transverse line found in N. lixaria and bistriaria. Male valves have well-developed basal and distal processes that distinguish them from other species of Nemoria (see Ferguson, 1985, for details and illustrations).

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: Larvae are coarsely pilose and possess prominent wing-like, dorso-lateral projections similar to several other members of this genus. Wagner (2005) recommends that larvae be reared to adulthood in order to identify them to species. However, any Nemoria larvae found feeding on conifers is likely to be this species (Maier et al., 2011).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: All except the two records from Brimley (1938) come from the Mountains (or the base of the Blue Ridge in the case of the McDowell County record).

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 a single flight period in mid-summer

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The majority of our records come from stands of mesic, montane forests, including both riparian habitats and Northern Hardwoods growing on high ridges.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of hardwood trees and shrubs and also on conifers (Ferguson, 1969; Maier et al., 2011). Wagner et al. (2001) specifically list fir (Abies), alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), hawthorn (Crataegus), larch (Larix), spruce (Picea), oak (Quercus), willow (Salix), American Basswood (Tilia americana), hemlock (Tsuga), and elm (Ulmus). - View

Observation Methods: Comes well to blacklights but we have no records from bait or from flowers.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNR [S3S4]

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

Comments: This species appears to be fairly widespread in the Mountains and given its wide range of host plants and habitats, is probably secure. Like other species associated with montane, mesic forests, however, its range may contract due to the effects of global warmming.

Photo Gallery for Nemoria mimosaria - White-fringed Emerald

Photos: 23

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-30 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-30 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-02 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-18 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-05-01 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-24 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-23 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-11 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-17 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-14 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-19 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-17 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-03 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-28 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-27 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-29 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-17 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2015-05-10 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2014-04-30 McDowell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-05-19 Ashe Co. Comment: