Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Melanolophia Members: 1139 NC Records

Melanolophia canadaria (Guenée, [1858]) - Canadian Melanolophia

Melanolophia canadariaMelanolophia canadariaMelanolophia canadariaMelanolophia canadaria
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Ennominae		Tribe:
Melanolophiini		P3 Number:
91a1040		 MONA Number:
6620.00		 Other Common Name:
Variable Redmarked Looper
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-sized, brownish Geometrid that is very similar to Melanolophia signataria. The ground color is whitish in northern specimens but is darker in the South, heavily dusted with fucsous and often with blackish blotches in the terminal area (Forbes, 1948; Rindge, 1964). The postmedian is waved or outwardly dentate on the veins and usually represented by the preceding dark line; its course is strongly curved in towards the inner margin. During the spring, when both species fly at the same time, dissection is often needed to distinguish them.
Wingspan: 30-35 mm (Forbes, 19448)
Adult Structural Features: The right and left processes of the valves of the male are nearly equal in length in this species, whereas in signataria, the left process is much longer and has a straight rather than curved tip (illustrated in Rindge, 1964). In female canadaria, the lamella postvaginalis a weakly sclerotized elongate projection, often weakly bifurcate at apex, shorter than lamella antevaginalis. In signataria, the lamella postvaginalis is very long, slender, well-sclerotized, and rod-like (illustrated in Rindge, 1964).
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.
Melanolophia canadariaAlamance 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.
Immature 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: immatures.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a very wide range of hardwood trees and shrubs; also on pines (Wagner, 2005). As of 2024, we have records for Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and Sassafras (Sassafras album). J.B. Sullivan also reared larvae from Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), cherry (Prunus), walnut (Juglans), and azalea (Rhododendron). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Melanolophia canadaria - Canadian Melanolophia

 371 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-11
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: David George on 2025-09-10
Durham Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: David George on 2025-09-10
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-09-04
Moore Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-09-02
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-01
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Michael P Morales on 2025-08-29
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock on 2025-08-25
Rutherford Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Marilyn Westphal and Becky Elkin. on 2025-08-17
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-09
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-08-09
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-08-06
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-27
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: David George, Dale Morgan, Patrick Coin, Julie Tuttle, Becky Watkins, et al. on 2025-07-26
Orange Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-08
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-08
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-07-03
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-06-30
Wake Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Melody McMichael on 2025-06-26
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-26
Orange Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-22
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-21
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-06-18
Alamance Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-07
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Melanolophia canadaria
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-30
Brunswick Co.
Comment: