Moths of North Carolina

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Cladara limitaria (Walker, 1860) - Mottled Gray Carpet

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Larentiinae

Tribe:
Lobophorini

P3 Number:
91a0125

MONA Number:
7637.00

Other Common Names:
Angle-lined Carpet Moth, Yellow-lined Conifer Looper

Comments: This genus currently includes two species that are found in North America, with both occurring in North Carolina. Cladara anguilineata is a previously described species that has been a source of confusion with C. limitaria since it is very similar in external morphology. Recent studies indicate that the mtDNA variation and genitalic morphology of C. anguilineata is indistinguishable from that of C. limitaria, and it has since been considered to be a color form and junior synonym of C. limitaria.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner et al. (2001)

Adult Markings: Cladara limitaria has a highly variable wing pattern that consists of varying amounts of green, black and whitish patterning, along with brown or blackish dusting. Individuals can range from being predominately brown to being boldly marked with green, black and whitish marks.

Adult Structural Features: The hind tibia of the male has a hair pencil.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The larvae are green with thin white lines around the segments and broader white lateral lines. Local populations produce a single brood and larvae reach the pupal stage by July or early August.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Cladara limitaria is found throughout most of the forested regions of the U.S., including Alaska, and in southern Canada from British Columbia eastward to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

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 produces a single brood with the adults flying for 3-4 weeks at any given location. The adults mostly fly from March through June in different areas of the range, with northern and mountainous populations flying relatively late in the year. The larvae typically reach the pupal stage by July or early August. Populations in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina reach a peak in breeding in April and breed a week or two later than adults in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are generally found in forests where conifers are well represented.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae reportedly feed on a variety of conifers, including firs (Abies), hemlocks (Tsuga), larches (Larix), pines (Pinus), and spruces (Picea) (Wagner et al., 2001). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: The species comes readily to lights but not to baits.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for Montane Cool Mesic Conifer Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]

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

Comments: Found here and there usually as singletons in the Coastal Plain. In the mountains it can be quite common and often flying on cold nights when few other species are active.

Photo Gallery for Cladara limitaria - Mottled Gray Carpet

66 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-27 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-04 Madison Co. Comment: Female (dissected).		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-04 Madison Co. Comment: Female genitalia.
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-03 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-27 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-13 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-13 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-04-10 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-08 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-04-02 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-02 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-01 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-01 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-01 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-04-01 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-03-31 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-03-30 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-03-21 Jackson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2024-03-14 Bladen Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-21 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-12 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-06 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B bockhahn on 2023-04-05 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-26 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2023-02-16 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-02 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-04-22 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-16 Madison Co. Comment: