Moths of North Carolina
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16 NC Records

Idaea productata (Packard, 1876) - Ochre Wave

Idaea productata
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: SterrhinaeTribe: SterrhiniP3 Number: 91a0065 MONA Number: 7112.00
Comments: One of thirty species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Pohl et al., 2016). Thirteen have been recorded in North Carolina.
Species Status: North Carolina specimens have been barcoded and appear to be the same as other populations in the East
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-small, yellowish-brown Wave with somewhat falcate forewings -- the costa is arched and the outer margin is strongly oblique (Forbes, 1948). The head, body, and ground color of the wings is dull reddish yellow, with a dusting of brown scales. The antemedian and postmedian are both waved and dark brown; a median line may also be present. The front is blackish and the interannental bar is white. Idaea eremiata is similar but usually lighter in color and with fainter lines; the front is also reddish-brown in that species.
Wingspan: 25 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: The subcosta and radius veins are shortly fused in this species but touch at just a point in eremiata and other members of this genus (Forbes, 1948)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: We have records across the entire state
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: Most of our records are from the spring, from April to June; we also have a record from August, suggesting a second brood
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Habitats where this species has been observed in North Carolina range from interdune ponds embedded in maritime forest on the Outer Banks to mesic bottomlands in the Great Smoky Mountains. In most of the Coastal Plain, records come from wet to dry habitats dominated by Longleaf Pine, but they come from hardwood-dominated sites in the Piedmont and Mountains.
Larval Host Plants: Apparently unrecorded - View
Observation Methods: All of our records were obtained from blacklight sampling, but it is unclear how strongly they are attracted
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: W3
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 [S3S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: For a species with such a wide range in the state and use of what seems to be a broad range of habitats, the sparsity of records is hard to account for. Information about its host plants would help clarify its status, but currently its conservation status is difficult to estimate.

 Photo Gallery for Idaea productata - Ochre Wave

Photos: 2

Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2019-04-27
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2013-05-11
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: