Moths of North Carolina
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Nematocampa Members:
161 NC Records

Nematocampa resistaria (Herrich-Schäffer, [1856]) - Horned Spanworm Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: EnnominaeTribe: CassyminiP3 Number: 910676.00 MONA Number: 7010.00
Comments: One of three species in this genus that occur north of Mexico (Ferguson, 2008), two of which are found in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Nematocampa limbata); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (2008)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2001); Wagner (2005); Ferguson (2008)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A moderately small Geometrid with a pale yellowish (males) or cream (females) ground color, overlain with a reticulated pattern of fine brown lines. The subterminal and terminal areas are typically dark brown but with the apical area similar in color and pattern to the medial and basal areas. Transverse lines are dark brown and conspicuous.
Adult Structural Features: Males with enlarged hind tibiae, whose inner spurs are elongated, flattened, and clubbed (Forbes, 1954; Ferguson, 2008). Genitalia are distinctive (see illustrations and discussion in Ferguson, 2008).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae (Filament Bearers) possess distinctive pairs of white-tipped, extensible filaments that project from the dorsal surface of segments A2 and A3 (Wagner et al., 2001; Wagner, 2005; Ferguson, 2008), The body is mottled with patches of white, pale gray, brown, and black.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Appears to occur statewide, from the Barrier Islands to the High Mountains
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: Univoltine, with adults flying in the spring and summer
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The majority of our records come from wet areas dominated by hardwoods, including swamps and riparian habitats but not peatlands. A few records come from drier or more open habitats, such as maritime dunes, sandhills, and ridges.
Larval Host Plants: Polyphagous, feeding on more than 60 species of both hardwood trees and shrubs, conifers, and forbs (Ferguson, 2008).
Observation Methods: Comes well to blacklights but we have no records from bait.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Fields
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Occupies a wide range of forested habitats across the state and is broadly polyphagous; appears to be quite secure in North Carolina

 Photo Gallery for Nematocampa resistaria - Horned Spanworm Moth

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-05-26
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2022-05-25
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2022-05-23
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2022-05-17
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2022-05-16
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-16
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-30
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-05-27
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-08-10
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-07-03
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-07-02
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-27
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-05-30
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-05-23
Craven Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-23
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-05-18
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-05-17
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-05-16
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-16
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-05-15
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2019-06-30
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2019-05-31
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Paul Scharf, Brian Bockhahn, C. Mitchell on 2015-06-05
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-05-28
Dare Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2014-05-28
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-05-26
Dare Co.
Comment: