Geometridae

Epirrhoe alternata White-banded Toothed Carpet

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=20 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: in NC since 2001 F 6 l 5 6 - Alleghany - 1997-09-02 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 1 - Ashe - 1998-07-21 g 2 Status Rank h 1 1 - Alleghany - 2001-06-29 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: A large genus occurring worldwide. We have a single species in North Carolina but it has an enormous range in North America and Eurasia.

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1948) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Forbes (1948)

ID COMMENTS: This species is quite distinct with the broad postmedian white line on both the fore and hindwings. Occasionally confused with , but that species lacks the hindwing white line.

DISTRIBUTION: The species is generally distributed throughout the mountains and into Georgia. Adults are taken in wooded habitats at intermediate altitudes, usually between 3000 and 4500’.

FLIGHT COMMENT: Probably at least double brooded throughout most of the Mountains

HABITAT: All of our records come from mesic forests in the Mountains, primarily riparian and cove forests at low to mid- elevations, habitats where various species of Galium occur.

FOOD: In Europe, the moth feeds on Galium species and it is likely they do the same here. G. latifolium, a Central and Southern Appalachian endemic (Weakley, 2015), has a range that overlays the range of the moth in North Carolina and is a likely candidate. Other native species of Galium also occur in the habitats occupied by Epirrhoe, but there is no indication that it uses the widely introduced European species that are common in disturbed habitats.

OBSERVATION_METHODS: Many species in the genus are diurnal and have small eyes but our species has large eyes and is attracted to lights. It is not recorded from bait nor does it fly during the day.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: GNR S2S4

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

COMMENTS: We have relatively few records for this species in North Carolina and more surveys need to be conducted to gather information on its distribution, abundance, and exact host plant and habitat associations before its conservation status can be determined.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1