Moths of North Carolina
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21 NC Records

Acasis viridata (Packard, 1873) - Olive-and-black Carpet Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: LarentiinaeTribe: LobophoriniP3 Number: 910476.00 MONA Number: 7635.00
Comments: A Laurentine genus of 5 species that are widely dispersed across much of the Northern Hemisphere. A single species occurs in North America, including the mountains of North Carolina.
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina are similar to those from Eastern Canada but specimens from Western Canada appear to be an undescribed species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The small size and greenish color (which fades in pinned specimens) will allow identification of this species. Some species of Eupithecia appear greenish but the hue is different and the wing shape is very different. The green appears as horizontal streaks across a peppered background but becomes yellowish in spread specimens. Sexes are similar.
Wingspan: 1.8 - 2 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult Structural Features: Male genitalia are probably characteristic. Female genitalia less so but still probably distinct enough to separate this species from anything resembling it.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Forbes (1948) describes the larvae as "short, chunky, sluggish and Eupithecia-like". He also noted that it builds "a slight web on the undersides of flower heads". This description matches images posted on BugGuide by Jim Sogaard.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found throughout our mountains usually above 3000’ and becoming more common at higher elevations.
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: We do not have enough data to be certain of the number of broods but it appears to be multiple brooded.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records all appear to come from moist, fairly high elevation forests (from about 3000’ upward). This is consistent with the distribution of V. cassinoides, which Weakley (2015) describes as associated with "bogs, moist forests, high elevation forests and outcrops."
Larval Host Plants: Forbes (1948) lists Northern Wild Raisin (Viburnum cassinoides) as the foodplant but other species of Viburnum are suspected to be acceptable. Covell (1984) reports that larvae also feed on Possumhaw Viburnum (Viburnum nudum). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: This species is clearly attracted to light but not likely to come to bait or flowers. The small size of adults probably results in it being overlooked often in light trap catches.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [SU]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: We have very few records for this species, which appears to be fairly specialized in terms of its habitats. The cool, moist, montane habitats that this species occupies are likely to be highly vulnerable to climate change. More surveys need to be conducted, however, to determine its actual distribution, abundance, and habitat associations before its conservation status can be determined.

 Photo Gallery for Acasis viridata - Olive-and-black Carpet Moth

Photos: 10

Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-14
Jackson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-04-22
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-03-31
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-04-30
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-04-29
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-08
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-28
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: E. Corey on 2006-07-10
Ashe Co.
Comment: