Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Orthodes Members: 260 NC Records

Orthodes detracta (Walker, 1857) - Disparaged Arches

Orthodes detractaOrthodes detractaOrthodes detracta
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Noctuinae		Tribe:
Eriopygini		P3 Number:
933146		 MONA Number:
10288.00
Comments: Information based primarily on molecular data and/or genitalia indicate that the genus that this species currently is assigned to is misapplied, but the correct genus to which it should be assigned has not been determined by experts. The genus name is sometimes placed in quotation marks ("Orthodes" detracta) to indicate the misapplied name.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Polia detracta); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The ground color of the forewings is generally fuscous, lacking the red-brown color of goodelli, although there can be patches of tawny coloration, especially posterior to the claviform (Forbes, 1954). The claviform spot is a conspicuous, solid-black wedge and the subterminal line is grayish rather than reddish, as is characteristic of goodelli (Forbes, 1954, see key)
Wingspan: 30-35 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult Structural Features: Antennae of males are strongly serrate to subpectinate, unlike the simple antennae of males of goodelli (Forbes, 1954).
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Orthodes detractaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Wagner et al. (2011) describe this species as a forest moth. Our records come almost entirely from mesic stands of hardwoods but in the Fall-line Sandhills, streamhead swamp forests are also used. No use of dry to xeric woodlands appears to exist.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed primarily on hardwood trees and shrubs. Wagner et al. (2011) list the buds of hickories and oaks, birch, blueberry, and serviceberry. In captivity, they can also feed on dead leaves. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Mesic Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Orthodes detracta - Disparaged Arches

Photos: 26
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-18
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-19
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-03
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-03
Madison Co.
Comment:
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-20
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Richard Teper on 2024-05-17
Orange Co.
Comment:
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-25
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: David George, Ed Corey on 2023-06-17
Avery Co.
Comment:
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2023-06-17
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: David George on 2023-06-16
Avery Co.
Comment:
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-24
Avery Co.
Comment:
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-17
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-05
Madison Co.
Comment:
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2021-05-29
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-09
Madison Co.
Comment:
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-02
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2017-05-20
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Paul Scharf,B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger on 2015-06-19
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
Comment:
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn, K Kittelberger on 2014-06-07
Avery Co.
Comment: 4100\'
Orthodes detractaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2013-07-06
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Orthodes detractaRecorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-05-26
Ashe Co.
Comment: