Moths of North Carolina
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Pleuroprucha Members:
611 NC Records

Pleuroprucha insulsaria (Guenée, [1858]) - Common Tan Wave Moth

Pleuroprucha insulsariaPleuroprucha insulsariaPleuroprucha insulsariaPleuroprucha insulsaria
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: SterrhinaeTribe: CosymbiiniP3 Number: 91a0017 MONA Number: 7132.00
Species Status: Forbes (1948) included Pleuroprucha> in the Tribe Cosymbiini
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The head, thorax, and wings are all concolorous reddish or greenish-gray; a white bar between the antennae the only contrasting mark (Forbes, 1948). The discal dot is obscure and the postmedian is usually faint, but wavy and marked with points at the veins. The terminal line is fine and black.
Wingspan: 15 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Males with hind tibiae with end spurs only (4 present in females) and otherwise not modified (Forbes, 1948). The forewings are unique among the Sterrhinae in lacking an accessory cell and the radial veins all originating from a common stalk. The hindwing is distinctively arc-shaped. Male antennae are pectinate.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Grasslands, fields, and the edges of woodlands (Wagner et al., 2001). We have records from essentially all types of habitats in North Carolina, from maritime forest and grasslands, to Longleaf Pine communities, to peatlands, to bottomlands, to Spruce-Fir forests, to successional fields.
Larval Host Plants: Polyphagous. Frequently found on Goldenrods but also reported on a wide range of woody and herbaceous plants (Wagner et al., 2001). As of 2023, we have one rearing record of a larva that was feeding on Chinese Elm (Ulmus parviflora). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Mixed Habitats
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Pleuroprucha insulsaria - Common Tan Wave Moth

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-30
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-05
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-23
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-12
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-03
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-31
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-08-14
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-02
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-30
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-27
Rowan Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-18
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-16
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-15
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-04
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-26
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-26
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-17
Lincoln Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Patrick Coin, Mark Basinger on 2024-06-16
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-15
Rowan Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-06-14
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-14
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-11
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-06-10
Jackson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-28
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-05-22
Buncombe Co.
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