Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
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View PDFGeometridae Members:
Cyclophora Members:
200 NC Records

Cyclophora myrtaria (Guenée, [1858]) - Waxmyrtle Wave Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: SterrhinaeTribe: CosymbiiniP3 Number: 910545.00 MONA Number: 7137.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The dorsal surface of the wings is fawn brown; the undersurface is "pale reddish cinereous" (Walker,1862, as Ephyra ignotaria). In packardi, the upper surface is yellowish-brown, often with a wash of reddish, and the undersurfaces are pale yellowish brown.
Adult Structural Features: Males have a tuft of hair-like scales on the upper, outer part of the hind tibia; this tuft is missing in packardi (Prout, 1931). The palps of both sexes are longer in this species than in packardi, as are the pectinations of the antennae of the males.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: In North Carolina, this species is commonly found on barrier islands, both in maritime forests and in open dune scrub. It is also common in other Tidewater habitats and inland, it occurs in savannas, flatwoods, and sandridges, where it may be associated with Morella pumila. A few Piedmont records exist, but its association with natural habitats in that region need to be determined.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed primarily on Morella species but have also been reared on oak (Wagner et al., 2001)
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Myricaceous Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4G5 S4S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Cyclophora myrtaria - Waxmyrtle Wave Moth

Photos: 26

Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-08-31
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-18
Chowan Co.
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Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2021-09-10
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-09-03
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-08-30
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-08-02
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Craig Downes & Michael P. Morales on 2021-07-24
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-11-14
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-09-06
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-08-06
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Taylor on 2020-07-17
Beaufort Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-07-11
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-01-02
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-09-20
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-08-03
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2019-06-22
New Hanover Co.
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Recorded by: Amanda Auxier on 2017-09-27
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Amanda Auxier on 2017-09-27
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Amanda Auxier on 2017-08-20
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2017-06-17
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2013-09-05
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2013-09-05
Gates Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2012-07-02
Camden Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2006-07-18
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Chris Helms on 2005-08-05
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2005-07-28
Carteret Co.
Comment: