Geometridae

Cabera erythemaria Yellow-dusted Cream

10 9 8 n=3 7 High Mt. 6 N 5 u 4 3 m 2 • b 1 • e 0 • r 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 • 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 NC counties: 4 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec o 10 f 9 n=12 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: in NC since 2001 F 6 l 5 2 - Swain - 2001-06-24 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 1 - Haywood - 1988-06-07 g 2 Status Rank h 1 1 - Macon - 1999-07-17 0 NC US NC Global t 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 D Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec a 10 10 9 9 t 8 n=0 8 n=0 e 7 Pd 7 CP s 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Three periods to each month: 1-10 / 11-20 / 21-31 FAMILY: Geometridae SUBFAMILY: TRIBE: TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: The genus Cabera as currently conceived is found in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Some 30 species are known of which 5 occur in the United States and 3 are found in North Carolina.

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: MPG, BugGuide, BAMONA, BOLD TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1948); Rindge (1956); McGuffin (1981) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Forbes (1948); Wagner et al. (2001)

ID COMMENTS: A medium-sized, cream colored Geometrid usually marked with three buff-colored lines. Keys for specimens of Cabera from North America are given in Forbes (1948), Rindge (1956), and McGuffin (1981). For the most part, however, they do not work for our individuals of C. erythemaria and C. variolaria, both of which can be marked with well defined crosslines or be almost entirely white. For males the color of the pectens is the best external character: white in C. erythemaria and black in C. variolaria (with the occasional white scale). Easily confused with other small white geometrids such as Lomographa vestialata (smaller, pearly white, no pectinations), Gueneria similaria (orangish wash), Scopula ordinata (larger, pointed forewings), and perhaps worn specimens of Speranza pustularia (crosslines reddish and widening at costa).

DISTRIBUTION: All of our records come from the Mountains. However, we have no validated records from the northern counties and there is no known reason why its distribution apparently is so limited in North Carolina.

FLIGHT COMMENT: We have records from late May through August indicating multiple broods

HABITAT: Associated with Populus and Salix elsewhere but in North Carolina so far only with Salix and the open, streamside habitats where willow is usually common. We have collected both C. erythemaria and C. variolaria at the same location and therefore have no clues as to whether these species have different habitat preferences. The absence of this species from all more northern locations in the mountains is curious.

FOOD: Both Salix and Populus are used further north. Although we have no larval records in North Carolina, adults have been collected only in the vicinity of Salix.

OBSERVATION_METHODS: Adults readily come to light and can be flushed near willows during the day. It is unlikely they respond to baits.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G5 [S3S4]

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

COMMENTS: We have records from only scattered sites, with confirmed records coming only from the southern half of the mountains. However, its habitats and host plants are widespread in this region and it is observed regularly at some sites.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1