Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Idaea Members: 18 NC Records

Idaea eremiata (Hulst, 1887) - Straw Wave

Idaea eremiataIdaea eremiata
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Sterrhinae		Tribe:
Sterrhini		P3 Number:
91a0068		 MONA Number:
7115.00
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: This species was described based on specimens from Arizona, which barcoding indicates probably represents a different species; ours would consequently be undescribed. Specimens from several areas in the East appear to represent just a single species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A small, pale, poorly marked Wave. Forbes (1948) describes the eastern form as light luteous, with a faint postmedian. It is similar to paler forms of I. demissaria but with a more contrasting red-brown face and palps -- photographs should show the face to be acceptable as records for this species.
Adult Structural Features: The subcosta and radius veins in the hindwing touch at a single point then diverge (Forbes, 1948); in productata these veins are shortly fused.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Our records come from the southern half of the state but from the Blue Ridge to the Coast
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Idaea eremiataAlamance 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%20Hanover 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.
Flight Comments: Univoltine with all of our records coming from May and early June
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Almost all of our records come from along small streams or impoundments located within otherwise dry habitats -- sandhills in the Coastal Plain and upland woodlands in the Blue Ridge.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae reportedly feed on plant detritus, such as dead oak leaves (Wagner, 2005). - View
Observation Methods: Appears to come fairly well to blacklights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: W-PK
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: We have only a small number of records for this species, but scattered over a fairly wide area and coming from habitats that appear to be fairly common. More information is needed on the host plants used by this species, which may, in turn, provide a clearer picture of its distribution and habitat preferences. An accurate assessment of its conservation status cannot be done until these data are obtained.

 Photo Gallery for Idaea eremiata - Straw Wave

Photos: 2
Idaea eremiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Idaea eremiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-17
Madison Co.
Comment: