Geometridae

Ennomos subsignaria Elm Spanworm

10 9 8 n=20 • • 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: 20 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec o 10 • f 9 n=16 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: • in NC since 2001 F 6 • l 5 10 - Martin - 1996-05-22 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 3 - Martin - 1996-05-22 g 2 Status Rank h 1 3 - Alleghany - 2017-09-03 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=5 8 n=12 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 : Geometridae SUBFAMILY: TRIBE: TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: A moderately large (17 species) and peculiar Asian with species in Europe and North America. Two species reach North Carolina.

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

ID COMMENTS: The large size and pure white wings make the moth extremely distinct; it is unlikely confused with any other species in our fauna other than Eugonobapta which has a very different wing shape. Sexes are similar.

DISTRIBUTION: Most of our records are from the Mountains. Piedmont records are rare so far but that rarity needs to be verified. Uncommon in the Coastal Plain.

FLIGHT COMMENT: There is a single brood but in the mountains it extends over several months.

HABITAT: We have records from a wide range of hardwood forests, including maritime forests, non-riverine and riverine swamp forests, mesic mixed hardwoods, xeric sand ridges, cove forests, and high elevation forests.

FOOD: Apparently the caterpillar will feed on a wide variety of trees and shrubs (Wagner, 2001); we need specific records for North Carolina.

OBSERVATION_METHODS: Adults have been captured at light by the hundreds but all have been males. The females must not respond to light. Neither sex is recorded at bait.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G5 S4

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

COMMENTS:

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1