Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« Home »
View PDFGeometridae Members: Campaea Members: 367 NC Records

Campaea perlata (Guenée, [1858]) - Pale Beauty

Campaea perlata
view caption 		Campaea perlataCampaea perlata
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Ennominae		Tribe:
Campaeini		P3 Number:
91a1130		 MONA Number:
6796.00		 Other Common Names:
Fringed Looper, American Light Emerald
Comments: The genus Campaea contains 5 species found in North America, Europe, India and China. Our single species is distributed over much of North America.
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been bar-coded and are very similar to those from throughout the country other than a divergent group from the Pacific Northwest.
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: Forbes (1948); Wagner et al. (2001)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-large, translucent whitish to pale green Geometrid; the sole markings are the relatively straight, antemedian and posmedian lines, both of which are white and bordered medially by green or greenish-brown. Sexes are similar. The species is quite distinct and unlikely to be confused with any other North American species. Tetracis cachexiata has a similar shape but its ground color is off white and the single crossline is dark and quite different in color from that of Campaea.
Wingspan: 35-50 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Male antennae are bipectinate except at the apex, which is simple (Forbes, 1954). Pectinations are naked and are attached at the base of the antennal segments. Female antennae are fasciculate. Both pairs of spurs on the hind tibiae are well-developed. Male and female genitalia are quite distinct from those of any species likely to be confused with Campaea.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Caterpillars are twig mimics with lateral fringes, similar to many caterpillars of Catocala but quite different in shape (more rounded). An extra set of prolegs on A5 along with the fringe of hairs are distinctive (Wagner et al., 2001).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Associated with woodland habitats in the western half of our state, including monadnocks in the western Piedmont. The eastern limits of its distribution are largely unknown nor is it clear why it does not extend widely into the Piedmont or Coastal Plain.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Campaea perlataAlamance 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 Hanover 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: The species begins flight in May and continues into October indicating at least two broods occur each year.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from a wide range of montane forests and from a variety of elevations, ranging from around 2000' to over 6000'.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide array of woody plants including some evergreens. Wagner et al. (2001) specifically list fir (Abies), maple (Acer), alder (Alnus), serviceberry (Amelanchier), birch (Betula), hazelnut (Corylus), larch (Larix), aspen (Populus), cherry (Prunus), oak (Quercus), rose (Rosa), willow (Salix), and hemlock (Tsuga). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: Adults readily come to light and can be flushed from the undergrowth during the day. Attraction to bait seems unlikely.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General 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: This species is widespread and common in the mountains, where it occupies a wide range of habitats and elevations. Currently, at least, it appears to be secure within the state, although like other montane species, may be affected by global climate change.

 Photo Gallery for Campaea perlata - Pale Beauty

 134 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-10-17
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-10-13
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-10-12
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-10-12
Madison Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-10-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-09-07
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-09-05
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-08-30
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-11
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-22
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-05-23
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-05-10
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-10-22
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-03
Madison Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-19
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-11
Madison Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2024-08-06
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-25
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-19
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-06-08
Jackson Co.
Comment:
Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Campaea perlata
Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2024-06-04
Buncombe Co.
Comment: