Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Cymatophora Members:	142 NC Records

Cymatophora approximaria Hübner, [1812] - Giant Gray Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Ennominae

Tribe:
Angeronini

P3 Number:
91a1225

MONA Number:
6745.00

Comments: This genus contains three species; two are neotropical, one occurs in North Carolina.

Species Status: Barcodes indicate a single species throughout the Southeast.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Not in either Covell (1984) or Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948; as Stenotrachelys approximaria)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948; as Stenotrachelys approximaria)

Adult Markings: Cymatophora is one of our largest Geometrids, similar in wingspan to Epimecis hortaria and the Lytrosis species and much larger than the other species loosely termed the Grays. Likely to be confused only with Epimecis, with which it barely overlaps in its fall flight period. Both species have broadly bipectinate antennae in the males, possess a similar gray ground color shaded with brown and darker striations, and have scalloped outer margins on their wings. Cymatophora is narrower-winged, however, and holds its wings more horizontally at rest, with the costa running at right angles to the body; Epimecis, in contrast, usually holds its forewings projecting forward at rest, with the costa running at an angle from the body. Both species possess well-marked lines on the wings, but these are black and single in Cymatophora and usually doubled in Epimecis and filled with white. The postmedian is strongly bent in both species but more dentate in Epimecis. The median line in Cymatophora is also sharply bent, coverging with the postmedian in the lower part of the wing; it is much straighter in Epimecis, although also coverging with the postmedian lower down. A strong, but diffuse subterminal line is usually present in Epimecis but lacking in Cymatophora.

Adult Structural Features: The male genitalia are unique and bear little resemblance to those of Lytrosis.

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The caterpillar is variable in color (dark and light morphs) but has a black patch behind the second abdominal segment (and sometimes behind the first as well). It is likely that it passes the winter as an egg or young larva and develops in the spring when new foliage is present.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Principally a denizen of the Coastal Plain but also getting into the eastern Piedmont (Montgomery County).

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: Has a single flight in the fall. Howerver, a single adult was taken on May 1 in Carteret County -- clearly its biological clock was broken.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Occurs in a variety of habitats, but usually in habitats where hardwoods -- particularly oaks -- are present.

Larval Host Plants: The majority of our records come from maritime forest and maritime scrub habitats on the Barrier Islands or from similar mainland communities adjacent to the sounds; in all these habitats, evergreen oaks are likely hosts, including Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), Sand Live Oak (Q. geminata) and Sand Laurel Oak (Q. hemisphaerica). Sand Laurel Oak is the only one of these three that occurs farther inland, following the range of Cymatophora into the Fall-line Sandhills. However, we have recently documented Cymatophora in the Uwharrie Mountains region of the eastern Piedmont, beyond the range of Sand Laurel Oak. Other members of the Laurel Oak group could be used there (and elsewhere), including Willow Oak (Q. phellos) or Water Oak (Q. nigra). Those species, however, extend even farther to the west, leaving some other explanation (perhaps climate) as necessary to account for the restriction of Cymatophora strictly to the eastern part of the state. Greenbriers (Smilax spp.) have also been reported (Forbes, 1948) as host plants, and at least one species -- Smilax laurifolia -- has a range in North Carolina that is similar to that of Cymatophora. That species, however, occurs primarily in peatlands and swamp forests, areas where we have not found the moth, and other species are either more restricted or more widespread than the moth. Clearly, more work is needed to determine both the host plants used by this species and its exact habitat requirements. - View

Observation Methods: Adults come to lights but none have been seen at baits. At lights males are far more numerous than females. The life history of this species should be described. Captive females will probably lay eggs readily. Beating for caterpillars in the spring has not produced this species which is odd given its abundance in the fall.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for Coastal Plain Dry-Mesic Oak Hickory Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4G5 SNR [S3S4]

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

Comments: Locally common to abundant in Maritime Forests and other types of hardwood forests in the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont. Although somewhat specialized in terms of its habitats, it occurs over a broad area and in multiple habitat types and seems relatively secure in the state.

Photo Gallery for Cymatophora approximaria - Giant Gray Moth

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-25 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-10-18 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Nora Murdock on 2025-10-17 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: G. Newman on 2025-10-15 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-10-13 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-02 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-02 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-28 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-27 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-10-21 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-21 Wayne Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-10-07 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-06 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-11-04 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-29 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-10-25 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-10-18 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-10-04 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2021-11-11 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2021-11-02 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2021-10-20 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-10-11 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-10-11 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-10-11 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-10-23 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-10-22 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2020-10-14 Moore Co. Comment: