Geometridae Ceratonyx satanaria No common name 10 9 8 n=0 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: 6 • Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec • o 10 • f 9 n=1 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: in NC since 2001 F 6 • l 5 3 - Onslow - 2020-02-11 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 2 - Onslow - 2020-02-10 g 2 Status Rank h 1 1 - Brunswick - 1996-03-05 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=7 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: Ennominae TRIBE: Nacophorini TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: In his revision of the genus Ceratonyx, Rindge (1975) included 12 species from North, Central and South America. Currently (Scoble, 1999) includes only 4 species from Mexico and North America. Only satanaria occurs in North Carolina. FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: ONLINE PHOTOS: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Rindge (1975) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Sourakov and Stubina (2012) ID COMMENTS: A medium-sized, grayish-brown Geometrid, with a darker median area and pale shading along the costa in the antemedian and postmedian areas. Hindwings are also brown. Unlikely to be confused in our area with any other species, particularly during its late winter flight period. DISTRIBUTION: Please refer to the dot map. FLIGHT COMMENT: It is on the wing primarily in February and March but may occur earlier or later depending upon when the weather is mild. HABITAT: Our collections have come from wooded areas but the caterpillar has been found feeding on Sweet Gum (Guenee, 1857) so they may be found in almost all wooded and open roadside habitats. FOOD: The only known host plant is Sweet Gum, which was reported by Guenee in his description of the species, apparently based on a drawing by Abbot (see Rindge, 1975). No modern confirmation of this host plant appears to be available. OBSERVATION_METHODS: Males come readily to light traps, females rarely; Brou (2012) found a female for every 200 males and we have yet to see a female in North Carolina. It seems unlikely the species will respond to bait. NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G4 S2S4 STATE PROTECTION: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands. COMMENTS: This species appears to moving into our area from further south, a trend that may increase with global climate change. When Rindge (1975) revised the genus, he found specimens from southern South Carolina across the Gulf Coast to Texas. In spite of frequent collecting in southeastern North Carolina from 1970 to date, the first specimen turned up in Brunswick County in 1995. By 2000 it had reached Craven County and was taken there infrequently. Today there are records from Oklahoma and Kentucky on Moth Photography Group's website and the species is now routinely collected in Carteret, Jones and Craven Counties. March 2021 The Moths of North Carolina - Early Draft 1.