Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Spiramater Members:
7 NC Records

Spiramater lutra (Guenée, 1852) - Otter Spiramater Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: HadeniniP3 Number: 932883.00 MONA Number: 10301.00
Comments: The genus contains a single species found in North America and it reaches the higher mountains of North Carolina. Originally, a second species (Lacanobia grandis) was included but has since been removed because neither male genitalic nor barcode data supported that placement.
Species Status: A specimen from North Carolina has been barcoded and differs from those from further north by about 1% indicating that the species is probably homogenous. However, additional specimens need to be sequenced in order to establish whether or not the slight deviation is of significance.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This large Noctuid should present no difficulties in identification based on the accompanying pictures. The large reniform and fuscous hindwings separate it from other large Noctuids likely to be encountered at these altitudes.
Adult Structural Features: Both male and female genitalia are quite distinct. In the male the vesica is extremely long with a distinct cornutus while in the female the appendix bursae is twisted.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The bright green or yellow-green caterpillar is reasonably distinct (see illustrations and description in Wagner et al., 2011).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found across the entire extent of the mountains in North Carolina, usually above 3500’.
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)

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