Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members:
Eulithis Members:
5 NC Records

Eulithis propulsata (Walker, 1862) - Currant Eulithis

No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: LarentiinaeTribe: HydriomeniniP3 Number: 91a0373 MONA Number: 7199.00
Comments: One of fourteen species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Pohl et al., 2016), five of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954, as Lygris propulstata)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2002)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A pale yellowish-brown, broad-winged Geometrid with somewhat falcate forewings. Similar to several other species of Eulithis in ground color and in the median area darkened on the margins but pale in the middle. Differs from diversilineata and gracilineata in having a waved postmedian rather than one with a sharp, elongated tooth. Differs from yellowish forms of molliculata in having an antemedian that is sharply angled at the base of the cell instead of evenly rounded (Forbes, 1948). Hindwings are pale yellow or whitish.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are yellow, tan or gray, with a series of brown-edged dorsal chevrons (see Wagner et al., 2002, for illustrations and a more detailed description).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Recorded in the Mountains at elevations greater than 3,500 ft.
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)

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Flight Comments: Univoltine, with adults flying in May and June
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our few records are from high elevation (>3,500 ft) mesic forests, including Rich Cove Forests, Northern Hardwoods, and Spruce-fir Forests, all habitats that support populations of Ribes species, which in our state are also restricted to high elevations.
Larval Host Plants: Stenophagous, feeding on currants (Ribes sp.) (Wagner et al., 2002). - View
Observation Methods: Comes to blacklights but how well is unknown.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Gooseberry Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: SR
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S2S3
State Protection: Listed as Significantly Rare by the Natural Heritage Program. That designation does not confer any legal protection, however, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: We have very few records for this northern species in North Carolina. It appears to be a highly restricted, host plant and habitat specialist and its mesic, high elevation habitats are likely to be highly threatened due to climate change. This species, consequently, appears to be at high risk of extirpation in North Carolina.