Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members:
Spargania Members:
19 NC Records

Spargania magnoliata Guenée, [1858] - Double-banded Carpet Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: LarentiinaeTribe: HydriomeniniP3 Number: 910155.00 MONA Number: 7312.00
Comments: This is a very large genus in the Neotropics with likely well over 100 species. In North America, five have been recorded and only one occurs in North Carolina.
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina barcode with those from the Eastern part of the country. Out West S. magnoliata forms a complex with several additional species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2001)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Adults have green forewings that perfectly match the mossy habitats found at high elevations; pinned specimens, however, rapidly lose the greenish tinge. Sexes are similar. Adults are not likely to be confused with any other species in our area.
Adult Structural Features: Genitalic structures are diagnostic, separating Spargania from all other similar species.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The caterpillar is green with pinkish lateral areas matching the petioles of its foodplants (Wagner et al, 2001).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Restricted to the Mountain in North Carolina
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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