Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Dyspteris Members: 223 NC Records

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

Dyspteris abortivariaDyspteris abortivariaDyspteris abortivaria
view caption
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Larentiinae		Tribe:
Lobophorini		P3 Number:
91a0122		 MONA Number:
7648.00		 Other Common Name:
The Bad-wing
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 Resources: 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.
Dyspteris abortivariaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: Apparently there are two to three broods of adults over much of the state.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from virtually all grape-containing habitats in the state, which range from open beach dunes on the Barrier Islands to bottomland forests to mountain ridges.
Larval Host Plants: Larva reportedly feed on grapes (Vitis spp.), Muscadine (Muscadinia rotundifolia), and Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) (Forbes, 1948; Wagner et al., 2001). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: Adults come readily to light but not to bait. Adults are often seen during the day at damp or streamside sites. Adults are often found around puddles or small rivulets imbibing liquid, which is subsequently shot out of the anus in an obvious stream. The function of this apparent cleansing behavior is unknown.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Vitaceous Tangles
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: With its broad range across the state, its use of common host plants, and it wide range of habitat associations, this species appears to be quite secure in North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Dyspteris abortivaria - Badwing Moth

 109 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-09-04
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-09-04
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-31
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26
Madison Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Melody McMichael on 2025-06-26
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Melody McMichael on 2025-06-26
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-25
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-19
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-02
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-14
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-05
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-02
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-05
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-04
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-07-24
Graham Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-14
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-29
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-24
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin on 2024-06-22
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: David George, Tracy Feldman, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Patrick Coin, Becky Watkins on 2024-06-08
Wake Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-14
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-13
Madison Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-12
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-05-09
Jackson Co.
Comment:
Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2024-05-06
Polk Co.
Comment: 		Dyspteris abortivaria
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-04-29
Buncombe Co.
Comment: