Moths of North Carolina
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14 NC Records

Hydrelia condensata (Walker, 1862) - No Common Name


Hydrelia condensata
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: LarentiinaeTribe: AstheniniP3 Number: 91a0137 MONA Number: 7420.00
Comments: One of six species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Pohl et al., 2016), three of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A small dark gray and white Geometrid. The head, thorax, and the basal, postmedial, and subterminal areas of the forewings are blackish-brown. The inter-antennal ridge, medial and terminal areas of the forewings are pure white (Forbes, 1948). Hindwings are also white, with light gray markings.
Wingspan: 20 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Apparently undescribed
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: North Carolina records all come from the New River valley in the northern Moutains
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
Flight Comments: This species seems to be univoltine in North Carolina with all of our records coming from mid-May to mid-June
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: North Carolina records come mainly from mesic stands of hardwoods, including riparian and cove forests; the vegetation at most of these sites is fairly rich, due to the influence of mafic soils
Larval Host Plants: Have not been documented in North Carolina, but at least one larva has been collected on Northern Red Oak in West Virginia (Butler and Strazanac, 2000). - View
Observation Methods: Comes to light but to what extent appears to be unknown. According to J.B. Sullivan, they "can easily be caught diurnally during its flight period. Just walk wooded trails and look for whitish 'blues'! Often light on bare, open areas as well"
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Montane Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: W3
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S2S3
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species may be one of several northern moths whose range extends into North Carolina down along the New River. Until we know more about its residency status, distribution, host plants, and habitat associations in this state, we are unable to make any estimate of its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Hydrelia condensata - No common name

Photos: 3

Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2023-06-07
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-05-26
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: E. Corey, J. Anderson, J. Gardner on 2015-06-15
Alleghany Co.
Comment: