Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: 18 NC Records

Idaea eremiata (Hulst, 1887) - Straw Wave Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: SterrhinaeTribe: SterrhiniP3 Number: 910524.00 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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONATechnical 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.
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.
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: 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: Feeds on plant detritus, such as dead oak leaves (Wagner, 2005)
Observation Methods: Appears to come fairly well to blacklights
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: 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 Moth

Photos: 2

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-17
Madison Co.
Comment: