Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Noctuidae Members:	Homorthodes Members:	131 NC Records

Homorthodes lindseyi (Benjamin, 1922) - Southern Scurfy Quaker

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Noctuidae

Subfamily:
Noctuinae

Tribe:
Eriopygini

P3 Number:
933089

MONA Number:
10532.10

Comments: Like the North American genus Protorthodes, Homorthodes has some 15 named species, mostly from the southwestern United States but with two occurring in North Carolina.

Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded and are very similar to those from elsewhere in the species’ range. There is no hint of unrecognized species. H. lindseyi was thought to be a form of H. furfurata for many years but the genitalia and barcodes are quite distinct.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; described as a subspecies of H. furfurata but not illustrated)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954); Crumb (1956)

Adult Markings: In size and shape very much like H. furfurata. However, that species is brown while H. lindseyi is a reddish/pink color and has pearly hindwings instead of the fuscus ones of H. furfurata. It is smaller than most Pseudorthodes cynica and Orthodes vecors and their reddish coloration is a different tone and darkened with blackish scaling.

Adult Structural Features: The male genitalia are readily distinguished from those of Orthodes, Protorthodes and Pseudorthodes by the expanded distal end of the valves. Female genitalia are also different. H. furfurata has very similar male and female genitalia, but the males may be differentiated by the shape of the distal end of the valves. Females are more difficult to distinguish using genital characters.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Larvae are blackish-brown, with small heads and swollen posteriorly; very similar to those of H. furfurata but can be distinguished based on structural characteristics (see Crumb, 1956).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: This species is found commonly in the Mountain and Piedmont regions but We have only a few records from the western part of the Coastal Plain.

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: There are two broods, one in the early spring and a second in late summer with the spring brood usually the more abundant.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come from open habitats -- including maritime dunes, glades, and old fields -- but also from upland woodlands, frequently but not always, where artificial openings are present, including picnic areas, overlooks, visitor centers, and access roads. All of these sites are likely to have Prunus species.

Larval Host Plants: What the larvae feed on in the wild is unknown, but Forbes (1954) found that captive larvae did well on cherry and Crumb (1956) reported that they fed on dead leaves. - View

Observation Methods: Adults come to light but we have no information regarding their attraction to bait or flowers.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Fields

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNR [S3S4]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: Widespread and fairly common over the western two-thirds of the state. Occupies a broad range of upland habitats, including early successional or other disturbed areas. Appears to be secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Homorthodes lindseyi - Southern Scurfy Quaker

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-08-09 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-08-09 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-06 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-29 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-29 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-27 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-07 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-25 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-11 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall, David George, and David Bradley on 2024-05-07 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2024-04-29 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-04-28 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-24 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Teper, David George on 2023-09-25 Caswell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-30 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-30 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-22 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29 Swain Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2023-04-19 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-04-19 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-31 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-11 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-30 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-08-06 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-16 Madison Co. Comment: