Moths of North Carolina
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104 NC Records

Achatia distincta Hübner, 1813 - Distinct Quaker Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: OrthosiiniP3 Number: 932800.00 MONA Number: 10518.00
Comments: A monotypic genus found across most of eastern North America and throughout North Carolina. The genus is not closely related to other known genera but the species was included in Morrisonia by Forbes (1954).
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina match those from elsewhere in the eastern US and Canada. Variability is low.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954), as Morrisonia distinctaTechnical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Slightly similar to Morrisonia latex but smaller and more distinctly marked. Look for the black bar running between the white antemedian and postmedian lines. Sexes are similar.
Adult Structural Features: The genitalia are distinct and do not indicate a relationship with species of Morrisonia nor other genera in the tribe.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Caterpillar green with the subdorsal lines most distinct. Very similar to caterpillar of Himella fidelis. Eggs laid in rafts (Wagner et al, 2011).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This species is abundant in the Mountains and common in the Piedmont. Records from the Coastal Plain appear to be restricted to the floodplains and slopes along brownwater rivers.
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
Flight Comments: Univoltine, it is on the wing early in the spring, from March into May
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: All of our records come from forests dominated by hardwoods, including wet, mesic, and fairly dry sites. We have no records, however, from Longleaf Pine, Peatland, or Maritime habitats despite the intensive surveys that have been conducted in them within North Carolina.
Larval Host Plants: Polyphagous, feeding on a very wide range of woody plants (see Wagner et al, 2011, for a partial list)
Observation Methods: Adults are readily attracted to light but we have no records from bait.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S4S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Although we only have a relatively small number of records for Achatia, this is probably due to its early spring flight. This species otherwise appears to secure in the state, since it is widespread at least across the western two-thirds of the state; occupies a wide range of hardwood habitats; and feeds on a very wide variety of host plants.

 Photo Gallery for Achatia distincta - Distinct Quaker Moth

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-30
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-16
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-04-04
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-04
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-03-30
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-03-30
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-03-30
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2022-03-25
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2022-03-25
Cumberland Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-03-22
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-20
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-12
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-04-09
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-04-06
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-04-05
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-04
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-04-03
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-03-31
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-30
Bladen Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-30
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2021-03-25
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-03-24
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-24
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-03-22
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-03
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-04-11
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-04-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2020-04-09
Wake Co.
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