Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Synchlora Members:	250 NC Records

Synchlora frondaria Guenée, [1858] - Southern Emerald

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Geometrinae

Tribe:
Synchlorini

P3 Number:
91a0646

MONA Number:
7059.00

Comments: One of eight species in this genus that occur north of Mexico (Ferguson, 1985), two of which are found in North Carolina.

Species Status: Three subspecies have been described, of which only the nominate form occurs in North Carolina (Ferguson, 1985).

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 denticularia); Ferguson (1969, 1985)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Ferguson (1969, 1985); Wagner (2005)

Adult Markings: This species and Synchlora aerata are both small, bright green Emeralds, with narrow white antemedian and postmedian lines, a dorsal white stripe on the abdomen, and with little or no red on the wings (Ferguson, 1985). In S. frondaria, the lines are conspicuously dentate and there is a strong outward bulge in the postmedian of both wings located between M3 and Cu2 (some aerata show a slight offset in the postmedian on the hindwings but not on the forewings). In S. aerata, the lines on the wings are fairly even, particularly on the forewing, and are usually only slightly dentate or waved, if at all. Nemoria bifilata has a similar white abdominal stripe, but has a red terminal line that is absent in both of our Synchlora species.

Forewing Length: Average winglength = 8.0 mm, males; 9.9 mm, females (Ferguson, 1985)

Adult Structural Features: Antennae of the males are broadly bipectinate basally but become abruptly simple in the outer half, unlike the more uniformly bipectinae antennae of Nemoria. Male reproductive structures are also easily distinguished from those of our other species of Geometrinae in their lack of a terminal process on the uncus. Both male and female reproductive structures, however, are indistinguishable between our two species of Synchlora (Ferguson, 1985).

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

Immatures and Development: Larvae are mottled brown and black with a series of white stripes. Most characteristically, however, is their use of fragments of petals and other plant fragments to decorate their dorsal surface, providing a strong degree of camouflage on flowers upon which they feed (Ferguson, 1985; Wagner et al., 2001; Wagner, 2005). Larvae of both species of our Synchlora are very similar and cannot be identified without rearing them to adulthood (Wagner, 2005).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Probably occurs statewide

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: Flies throughout the growing season from March to October; no strong evidence of separate flights. Broadly overlaps with Synchlora aerata.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Most of our records come from open, forb-rich habitats. These include old fields and disturbed areas but also natural habitats such as maritime dunes and marshes; Longleaf Pine savannas, flatwoods, and sandhills; and lake and river shorelines. Very few of our records come from deep within closed-canopy forests, especially where herbaceous species are scarce. Habitats used by Synchlora forndaria strongly overlap with those used by S. aerata.

Larval Host Plants: Both of our species of Synchlora are polyphagous, feeding on the flowers and seed heads of many species of herbaceous plants. Composites may be favored, with several species listed by Ferguson (1985). Blackberries (Rubus spp.) are also used, as are several species of legumes, including Soybean and Mesquite (Ferguson, 1985). No clear differences have been reported separating the diets of our two species of Synchlora. - View

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

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Successional Fields and Forblands

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 is widespread, polyphagous on a extensive range of common plants, and occupies a broad set of habitats, including disturbed areas. Consequently, it appears to be secure within our state.

Photo Gallery for Synchlora frondaria - Southern Emerald

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

	Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-06-21 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-01 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-05-31 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-24 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-23 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-05-21 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-05-21 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-03-31 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-10-24 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2024-10-03 Bertie Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-26 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Phil Smith on 2024-09-18 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-09-15 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-15 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-05 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-08-25 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-07-30 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-30 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-11 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-04 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-06-29 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-12 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-11 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-10 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-28 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-25 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29 Chatham Co. Comment: