Macaria granitata
Guenée, 1857
Granite Moth, Granite Angle
Macaria granitata, known as the granite or granite angle, is a small geometrid moth with a wingspan of approximately 25 mm. It occurs in the eastern United States and southern Canada, with larvae specialized on hard pines, particularly Pinus rigida. The has one to two per year depending on location.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Macaria granitata: /məˈkɛəriə ɡrænɪˈtɑːtə/
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Identification
Small size (25 mm wingspan) and association with hard pine in eastern North America. Specific diagnostic wing patterns or markings not described in available sources.
Images
Appearance
Small with wingspan approximately 25 mm. Specific wing pattern details not provided in source material.
Habitat
Pine-dominated forests and woodlands, particularly areas with Pinus rigida (pitch pine).
Distribution
Eastern North America: Pennsylvania, Maine, New Hampshire, New England region, New Jersey, southern Quebec, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Also recorded in Vermont.
Seasonality
One to two per year; specific period timing not detailed in sources.
Diet
Larvae feed primarily on Pinus rigida (pitch pine) in New England. In southern New Jersey, larvae have been recorded on Pinus rigida and other hard pines (Pinus with hard wood). diet not specified.
Host Associations
- Pinus rigida - larval food plantPrimary in New England and southern New Jersey
- Pinus (hard pines) - larval food plantAdditional hard pine in southern New Jersey
Life Cycle
One to two per year. Larval stage described in external sources but specific details not provided in available material.
Ecological Role
Herbivore on hard pines; specific functions not documented in available sources.
Similar Taxa
- Other Macaria species Macaria contains multiple pine-feeding that may overlap in range and use; precise identification requires examination of genitalia or detailed wing pattern analysis not described here
More Details
Host specificity notes
Larval records show geographic variation: strict Pinus rigida association in New England versus broader hard pine use in southern New Jersey. This may reflect local pine composition rather than intrinsic dietary flexibility.