Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha): Choose a Family

Home

View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Eupithecia Members:	46 NC Records

Eupithecia swettii Grossbeck, 1907 - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Larentiinae

Tribe:
Eupitheciini

P3 Number:
91a0233

MONA Number:
7530.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: McDunnough (1949)

Adult Markings: The forewings are elongate, more than twice as long as wide, but triangular in shape with an oblique outer margin (Forbes, 1948); the are pointed apically and have a checkered fringe (McDunnough, 1949). The ground color is light fawn, tending to gray (McDunnough, 1949). The markings are often obscure (McDunnough) or or even, giving the appearance of striations (Forbes, 1948). The discal dot is slender. The second segment of the abdomen has a slight indication of a dark transverse band (McDunnough). Eupithecia matheri is similar in having narrow, elongated forewings and an early spring flight, but is grayer than swetti and has more obsolescent markings (Rindge, 1985). The hind wings are slightly paler than the forewings, and have a minute discal dot and may or may not have an extradiscal line or band (Rindge, 1985).

Wingspan: 22 mm (Forbes, 1948)

Adult Structural Features: The eighth sternite is not modified and is twice as wide as usual (Forbes, 1948); according to McDunnough (1949), it is broad and subtriangular with truncate apex. The palpi are of moderate length and tufted (McDunnough, 1949). In males, they extend beyond the front of the eyes by a distance about equal to the diameter of the eye and in the females are only slightly longer (Rindge, 1985); the palpi have some white scaling along the ventral edge.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.

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
Flight Comments: An early spring species

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Larval Host Plants: Host plants are poorly documented, but there are BugGuide records for larvae on Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia) and Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua) (George Smiley), as well as an oak (Quercus sp.) (Jim Sogaard). - View

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNR [S3S4]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Eupithecia swettii - None

Photos: 7

	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2025-04-11 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-01 Madison Co. Comment: Adult female (dissected).
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-01 Madison Co. Comment: Female genitalia.		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall on 2025-03-15 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall on 2025-03-15 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-03-29 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: SPH on 1992-04-06 Orange Co. Comment: Identification based on dissection of some members of this series