Moths of North Carolina
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Eupithecia Members:
45 NC Records

Eupithecia swettii Grossbeck, 1907 - No Common Name

Eupithecia swettiiEupithecia swettiiEupithecia swettii
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, BOLDTechnical 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.
Eupithecia swettii
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: 6

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