Moths of North Carolina
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45 NC Records

Anticlea vasiliata Guenée, [1858] - Variable Carpet Moth



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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: LarentiinaeTribe: HydriomeniniP3 Number: 910172.00 MONA Number: 7329.00
Comments: A genus of some 17 species described from Europe and the Americas. We have two species in the east which seem quite different from each other. The type species for the genus is from Austria and it seems very unlikely that the genus is valid phylogenetically.
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina do not differ significantly from those over much of North America.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948, as Earophila vasiliata)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The forewing pattern is distinct and there should be no confusion with other species that fly at the same time. Sexes are similar.
Adult Structural Features: The genitalia are distinct, the male has a strikingly sclerotized costa that projects beyond the valve tip; the female appears to have two signa, well separated, the ductus has a sclerotized collar and the ostial plate is sclerotized and expanded. Only the sclerotized collar is found in A. multiferata.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The green caterpillar with small, white pinacula forming dots and reddish caudal side is distinct.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: It does not appear to venture far from the mountains but the foothill area is poorly collected, especially in the early spring.
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: Our records come from Spruce-Fir Forests, Northern Hardwoods, Cove Forests, and montane riparian forests; some come from residential areas and we have at least one record from the Piedmont at the base of the Blue Ridge Escarpment.
Larval Host Plants: Wagner (2001) reports that captive larvae accept blackberry (Rubus). Other plants are reported to be utilized by the caterpillars including hemlock (Tsuga) and rose (Rosa) (Robinson et al., 2010; Beadle & Leckie, 2012). We have no records of caterpillars in North Carolina found on any plants so this is a much needed area of research. - View
Observation Methods: Adults come readily to light and can be quite common though they are on the wing when few people go to the mountains. They are unlikely at bait.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S3S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
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 Photo Gallery for Anticlea vasiliata - Variable Carpet Moth

Photos: 26

Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-03-16
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-03-14
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-03-05
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-04
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-26
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-23
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-06
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-01
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-02-22
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2023-02-07
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-04-11
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-04
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-04-01
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-03-30
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-17
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-03-10
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-11
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-09
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-04-18
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-04-07
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-03-29
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2016-03-13
McDowell Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2015-04-02
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2014-05-26
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2014-05-26
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 0000-00-00
Madison Co.
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