Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members:
Dyspteris Members:
204 NC Records

Dyspteris abortivaria (Herrich-Schäffer, [1855]) - Badwing Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: LarentiinaeTribe: LobophoriniP3 Number: 910489.00 MONA Number: 7648.00
Comments: A genus of some 22 species; mostly neotropical but with a single species in the US, which occurs throughout North Carolina.
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded as have many from other places around the country. There is enough heterogeneity in the results to warrent further studies to look for sibling species. One sample from Carteret County differs by more than 2% from most other individuals and a sample from Florida seem outlying as well, although the two are not the same. In Costa Rica -- covering an area about the territorial size of West Virginia -- there are approximately 14 separate species by barcodes, most of them distinct but without names.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2001)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The green color is unique, as is the reduction in the hindwings. Numerous Nemorines are greenish but none have the almost aquamarine color of this species. Sexes are similar.
Wingspan: 28 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Both males and females have distinct genitalia with a number of unusual characters which should verify the species in cases where there is doubt. Males have pectinate antennae with extremely long branches.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are yellowish, with thorn-like projections on the first thoracic segment (Wagner et al., 2001). The caterpillar seems to be mimicking either grape tendrils or petioles. Forbes (1948) mentions that the caterpillar forms a shelter by folding together leaves, but Wagner et al. were unable to confirm this behavior. More information is needed on the details of its life history.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs statewide
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)

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