Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Orthosia Members:
117 NC Records

Orthosia hibisci (Guenée, 1852) - Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: OrthosiiniP3 Number: 932778.00 MONA Number: 10495.00
Comments: One of 22 species (two others provisional) that occur in this genus north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 210); five have been recorded in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Very similar in coloration and patterning to alurina but usually has a continuous and distinct pale subterminal preceded by dark bars (Forbes, 1954).
Wingspan: 35-40 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult Structural Features: Males have heavily serrate antennae, with the pectinations (including terminal bristles) longer that the width of the shaft (Forbes, 1954). Male valves are very different from those of alurina (see illustrations in Forbes) and may be the most reliable way of identifying some individuals.
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.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from all types of hardwood forests across the state, from maritime forest on the barrier islands to northern hardwoods on the tops of our highest peaks.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on both hardwoods, conifers, and shrubs (Wagner et al., 2011).
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Orthosia hibisci - Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth

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

Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2023-03-23
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-02-15
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-02-09
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2022-03-05
Sampson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2022-03-05
Sampson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-03-04
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-03-04
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-03-03
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-03-03
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2022-03-03
Halifax Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2022-02-24
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2022-02-24
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-02-22
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-02-21
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-02-17
Beaufort Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-02-17
Beaufort Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-07
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-03-24
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-11
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-03-03
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-02-24
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-02-24
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-02-24
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-26
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-03-18
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-03-09
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-03-09
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-02-04
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-04-05
Buncombe Co.
Comment: