Moths of North Carolina
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Copivaleria Members:
105 NC Records

Copivaleria grotei (Morrison, 1874) - Grote's Sallow

Copivaleria groteiCopivaleria grotei
view caption 		Copivaleria grotei
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Amphipyrinae		Tribe:
Psaphidini		P3 Number:
931557		 MONA Number:
10021.00
Comments: A single species found in the eastern and central parts of North America as well as North Carolina. Related to Psaphida but more closely to Pseudocopivaleria, a genus of two western US species.
Species Status: No treatments seem to mention the fact that there are two distinct forms. In the Coastal Plain and perhaps elsewhere, the lighter one, form b, is much less common. The genitalia of these two forms seem to differ somewhat but not consistently enough to warrant naming a second species. However, the light form (b in picture) has not been barcoded to date and may eventually prove to be separate.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954); Poole (1995)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Copivaleria when worn is most likely confused with Psaphida resumens, which differs by its white orbicular spot, more distinct anal dash, and gray margin.
Adult Structural Features: In the male the clasper is recurved and longer than in Psaphida species. The vesica also lacks the terminal cornutus found in many Psaphida. In the female, the apophyses are much reduced in length.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The caterpillar is a frosty green with white dorsal and spiracular stripes. The addorsal line is usually broken up into segments. Wagner et al (2011) note that larvae are seldom encountered even though the species is usually common in early spring collections.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Occurs in all provinces of the state but may be restricted to brownwater river systems in the Coastal Plain -- we have no records, so far, from blackwater swamps that support populations of Pumpkin Ash or Carolina Ash.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Copivaleria grotei
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: One of our early spring moths, this species is generally common for about 3 weeks from March to early May.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: In the Coastal Plain, our records all come from brownwater river floodplains, where Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is the most likely host plant. In the Piedmont and Mountains, it has been recorded primarily in upland habitats, particularly in habitats with rich or circumneutral substrates; White Ash (Fraxinus americana) is the likely host in those habitats.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are stenophagous, feeding on species of ash (Fraxinus). - View
Observation Methods: Adults are attracted to light but not bait.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Ash Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: [W-TH]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S2S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is still fairly widespread in North Carolina and found in a variety of hardwood forest communities. However, as an Ash specialist, it likely to be highly threatened by the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, which has the potential to eliminate most of the Ash species in our state (see Wagner, 2007 for details about the magnitude of this threat).

 Photo Gallery for Copivaleria grotei - Grote's Sallow

78 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-04-05
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-02
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Larry Chen on 2025-04-02
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-03-30
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2025-03-23
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Kaitlyn Elliott on 2025-03-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Kaitlyn Elliott on 2025-03-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-04-18
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-04-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-04-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-04-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-04-07
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-04-07
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-02
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-04-01
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-01
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-03-31
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-03-31
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-03-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-03-20
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-03-18
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-03-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2024-03-04
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Emily L Stanley on 2023-04-07
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B bockhahn on 2023-04-05
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-05
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2023-03-30
Orange Co.
Comment: