Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Geometridae Members:	Hydriomena Members:	65 NC Records

Hydriomena transfigurata Swett, 1912 - Transfigured Hydriomena

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Geometroidea

Family:
Geometridae

Subfamily:
Larentiinae

Tribe:
Hydriomenini

P3 Number:
91a0484

MONA Number:
7237.00

Comments: One of 56 species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (McDunnough, 1954, covered 55 and Rindge added Hydriomena peratica in 1956). Most are boreal or are found in the West, with only five recorded in North Carolina.

Species Status: McDunnough placed transfigurata in his Group I, which also includes the other four species found in our state.

Identification

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

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

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution:

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Barrens and oak woodlands (Wagner et al., 2001). Our records come from mainly from xeric sand ridges in the Coastal Plain but also from bottomland forests. We also have records from both dry and mesic forests in the Mountains and Piedmont.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on oaks (Wagner et al., 2001). Reports from pine require verification. - View

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4

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

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Hydriomena transfigurata - Transfigured Hydriomena

Photos: 20

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-24 Madison Co. Comment: Female (dissected)		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28 Chatham Co. Comment: Female (dissected by Jim Petranka)
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-25 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-25 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-03-12 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-03-12 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-03-17 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-04-02 Davidson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-03-16 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-02-25 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-02-25 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-04-13 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-03-08 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-04-19 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-04-19 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-03-24 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-03-27 Warren Co. Comment:		Recorded by: T. Nergart on 2015-03-24 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: T. Nergart on 2015-03-24 Transylvania Co. Comment: Confirmed by dissection; shape of the uncus is distinctive, as is the fuscous, nearly unmarked hindwing. Wingspan = 2.9 cm; forewing length = 1.7 cm.		Recorded by: Taylor Piephoff on 2010-03-28 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: