Moths of North Carolina
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Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ACROLEPIIDAE-
ADELIDAE-
AMPHISBATIDAE-
AUTOSTICHIDAE-
BATRACHEDRIDAE-
BEDELLIIDAE-
BLASTOBASIDAE-
BOMBYCIDAE-
BUCCULATRICIDAE-
CARPOSINIDAE-
CHOREUTIDAE-
COLEOPHORIDAE-
COSMOPTERIGIDAE-
COSSIDAE-
CRAMBIDAE-
DEPRESSARIIDAE-
DREPANIDAE-
ELACHISTIDAE-
EPERMENIIDAE-
EPIPYROPIDAE-
EREBIDAE-Erebid Moths
ERIOCRANIIDAE-
EUTELIIDAE-
GALACTICIDAE-
GELECHIIDAE-
GEOMETRIDAE-
GLYPHIDOCERIDAE-
GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE-
GRACILLARIIDAE-
HELIOZELIDAE-
HEPIALIDAE-
HYBLAEIDAE-
INCURVARIIDAE-
LASIOCAMPIDAE-
LECITHOCERIDAE-Long-horned Moths
LIMACODIDAE-
LYONETIIDAE-
MEGALOPYGIDAE-Flannel Moths
MICROPTERIGIDAE-
MIMALLONIDAE-
MOMPHIDAE-Mompha Moths
NEPTICULIDAE-
NOCTUIDAE-Owlet Moths
NOLIDAE-
NOTODONTIDAE-
OECOPHORIDAE-
OPOSTEGIDAE-
PELEOPODIDAE-
PLUTELLIDAE-
PRODOXIDAE-
PSYCHIDAE-Bagworm Moths
PTEROPHORIDAE-
PYRALIDAE-
SATURNIIDAE-Saturniids
SCHRECKENSTEINIIDAE-
SESIIDAE-
SPHINGIDAE-Sphinx Moths
THYATIRIDAE-
THYRIDIDAE-
TINEIDAE-
TISCHERIIDAE-
TORTRICIDAE-
URANIIDAE-
URODIDAE-
XYLORYCTIDAE-
YPONOMEUTIDAE-
YPSOLOPHIDAE-
ZYGAENIDAE-
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Noctuidae Members:
Abagrotis alternata
Abagrotis anchocelioides
Abagrotis brunneipennis
Abagrotis magnicupida
Abagrotis unidentified species
Abrostola ovalis
Abrostola urentis
Achatia distincta
Achatodes zeae
Acherdoa ferraria
Acrapex relicta
Acronicta afflicta
Acronicta albarufa
Acronicta americana
Acronicta betulae
Acronicta brumosa
Acronicta clarescens
Acronicta connecta
Acronicta dolli
Acronicta exilis
Acronicta fallax
Acronicta fragilis
Acronicta funeralis
Acronicta hamamelis
Acronicta hasta
Acronicta hastulifera
Acronicta immodica
Acronicta impleta
Acronicta impressa
Acronicta increta
Acronicta innotata
Acronicta insita
Acronicta insularis
Acronicta interrupta
Acronicta laetifica
Acronicta laetifica-hasta-interrupta
Acronicta lanceolaria
Acronicta lepusculina
Acronicta lithospila
Acronicta lobeliae
Acronicta longa
Acronicta modica
Acronicta morula
Acronicta noctivaga
Acronicta oblinita
Acronicta ovata
Acronicta perblanda
Acronicta radcliffei
Acronicta retardata
Acronicta rubricoma
Acronicta sinescripta
Acronicta spinigera
Acronicta superans
Acronicta tristis
Acronicta tritona
Acronicta unidentified species
Acronicta vinnula
Agnorisma badinodis
Agnorisma bollii
Agrotis buchholzi
Agrotis gladiaria
Agrotis ipsilon
Agrotis malefida
Agrotis unidentified species
Agrotis venerabilis
Agrotis vetusta
Agrotis volubilis
Allagrapha aerea
Alypia octomaculata
Amphipoea americana
Amphipoea erepta
Amphipoea interoceanica
Amphipoea unidentified species
Amphipyra glabella
Amphipyra pyramidoides
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Amyna bullula
Amyna stricta
Amyna unidentified species
Anagrapha falcifera
Anaplectoides brunneomedia
Anaplectoides prasina
Anaplectoides pressus
Anarta trifolii
Anathix ralla
Anicla forbesi
Anicla illapsa
Anicla infecta
Anicla lubricans
Anicla simplicius
Anicla sullivani
Anicla unidentified species
Anterastria teratophora
Apamea amputatrix
Apamea cariosa
Apamea cristata
Apamea devastator
Apamea dubitans
Apamea helva
Apamea indocilis
Apamea inebriata
Apamea lignicolora
Apamea lintneri
Apamea nigrior
Apamea plutonia
Apamea quinteri
Apamea sordens
Apamea verbascoides
Apamea vulgaris
Apamea vultuosa
Apameine new genus 2 sp. 1
Apameine new genus 2 sp. 4
Aplectoides condita
Argillophora furcilla
Argyrogramma verruca
Athetis tarda
Autographa ampla
Autographa precationis
Autoplusia egena
Azenia obtusa
Bagisara rectifascia
Bagisara repanda
Balsa labecula
Balsa malana
Balsa tristrigella
Basilodes pepita
Bellura brehmei
Bellura densa
Bellura gortynoides
Bellura obliqua
Bellura unidentified species
Callopistria cordata
Callopistria floridensis
Callopistria granitosa
Callopistria mollissima
Capis curvata
Cerastis fishii
Cerastis tenebrifera
Cerma cerintha
Cerma cora
Chaetaglaea fergusoni
Chaetaglaea rhonda
Chaetaglaea sericea
Chaetaglaea unidentified species
Charadra deridens
Cherokeea attakullakulla
Chloridea subflexa
Chloridea unidentified species
Chloridea virescens
Choephora fungorum
Chrysanympha formosa
Chrysodeixis includens
Chytonix palliatricula
Chytonix sensilis
Cirrhophanus triangulifer
Colocasia flavicornis
Colocasia propinquilinea
Colocasia unidentified species
Condica confederata
Condica confederata-cupentia
Condica cupentia
Condica mobilis
Condica sutor
Condica unidentified species
Condica vecors
Condica videns
Copivaleria grotei
Cosmia calami
Crambodes talidiformis
Crocigrapha normani
Ctenoplusia oxygramma
Cucullia alfarata
Cucullia asteroides
Cucullia convexipennis
Cucullia florea
Cucullia unidentified species
Dargida aleada
Dargida diffusa
Dargida rubripennis
Dargida unidentified species
Deltote bellicula
Derrima stellata
Diachrysia aereoides
Diachrysia balluca
Diarsia jucunda
Diarsia rubifera
Dichagyris acclivis
Dichagyris broui
Diphthera festiva
Dypterygia patina
Dypterygia rozmani
Egira alternans
Elaphria alapallida
Elaphria chalcedonia
Elaphria cornutinis
Elaphria cyanympha
Elaphria festivoides
Elaphria festivoides complex
Elaphria fuscimacula
Elaphria georgei
Elaphria grata
Elaphria nucicolora
Elaphria unidentified species
Elaphria versicolor
Emarginea percara
Enigmogramma basigera
Eosphoropteryx thyatyroides
Epiglaea apiata
Epiglaea decliva
Epiglaea unidentified species
Eucirroedia pampina
Eucoptocnemis dapsilis
Eucoptocnemis fimbriaris
Eudryas grata
Eudryas unio
Eueretagrotis attentus
Eueretagrotis perattentus
Eueretagrotis sigmoides
Eueretagrotis unidentified species
Euplexia benesimilis
Eupsilia cirripalea
Eupsilia devia
Eupsilia morrisoni
Eupsilia schweitzeri
Eupsilia sidus
Eupsilia tristigmata
Eupsilia unidentified species
Eupsilia vinulenta
Euxoa bostoniensis
Euxoa campestris
Euxoa declarata
Euxoa detersa
Euxoa immixta
Euxoa messoria
Euxoa pleuritica
Euxoa redimicula
Euxoa scholastica
Euxoa tessellata
Euxoa unidentified species
Euxoa velleripennis
Euxoa violaris
Exyra fax
Exyra ridingsii
Exyra semicrocea
Exyra unidentified species
Fagitana littera
Feltia geniculata
Feltia herilis
Feltia jaculifera
Feltia manifesta
Feltia subgothica
Feltia subterranea
Feltia tricosa
Feltia unidentified species
Feralia comstocki
Feralia jocosa
Feralia major
Fishia illocata
Franclemontia interrogans
Galgula partita
Globia oblonga
Hadena capsularis
Hadena ectypa
Harrisimemna trisignata
Helicoverpa zea
Heliocheilus lupatus
Heliocheilus paradoxus
Heliothis unidentified species
Hemipachnobia monochromatea
Hemipachnobia subporphyrea
Homophoberia apicosa
Homophoberia cristata
Homorthodes furfurata
Homorthodes lindseyi
Hyppa contrasta
Hyppa xylinoides
Iodopepla u-album
Ipimorpha pleonectusa
Kocakina fidelis
Lacanobia grandis
Lacanobia subjuncta
Lacinipolia anguina
Lacinipolia erecta
Lacinipolia explicata
Lacinipolia implicata
Lacinipolia laudabilis
Lacinipolia lorea
Lacinipolia meditata
Lacinipolia new species 1 near laudabilis
Lacinipolia new species 2 near laudabilis
Lacinipolia olivacea
Lacinipolia renigera
Lacinipolia teligera
Lacinipolia unidentified species
Lateroligia ophiogramma
Lemmeria digitalis
Leucania adjuta
Leucania calidior
Leucania commoides
Leucania extincta
Leucania incognita
Leucania inermis
Leucania insueta
Leucania lapidaria
Leucania linda
Leucania linita
Leucania multilinea
Leucania phragmitidicola
Leucania pseudargyria
Leucania scirpicola
Leucania subpunctata
Leucania unidentified species
Leucania ursula
Leuconycta diphteroides
Leuconycta lepidula
Lithacodia musta
Lithophane abita
Lithophane antennata
Lithophane baileyi
Lithophane bethunei
Lithophane disposita
Lithophane georgii
Lithophane grotei
Lithophane hemina
Lithophane innominata
Lithophane joannis
Lithophane laceyi
Lithophane laticinerea
Lithophane lemmeri
Lithophane lepida
Lithophane oriunda
Lithophane patefacta
Lithophane petulca
Lithophane querquera
Lithophane scottae
Lithophane semiusta
Lithophane signosa
Lithophane tepida
Lithophane unidentified species
Lithophane unimoda
Lithophane viridipallens
Loscopia roblei
Loscopia velata
Lycophotia phyllophora
Macronoctua onusta
Magusa divaricata
Maliattha concinnimacula
Maliattha synochitis
Marimatha nigrofimbria
Megalographa biloba
Melanapamea mixta
Melanchra adjuncta
Melanchra picta
Meropleon ambifusca
Meropleon cinnamicolor
Meropleon cosmion
Meropleon diversicolor
Meropleon titan
Mesapamea fractilinea
Metaxaglaea australis
Metaxaglaea inulta
Metaxaglaea semitaria
Metaxaglaea unidentified species
Metaxaglaea viatica
Metaxaglaea violacea
Morrisonia confusa
Morrisonia evicta
Morrisonia latex
Morrisonia mucens
Morrisonia triangula
Mouralia tinctoides
Mythimna oxygala
Mythimna unipuncta
Nedra ramosula
Neoligia crytora
Nephelodes minians
Niphonyx segregata
Noctua pronuba
Ochropleura implecta
Ogdoconta cinereola
Oligia chlorostigma
Oligia modica
Orthodes cynica
Orthodes detracta
Orthodes goodelli
Orthodes majuscula
Orthodes unidentified species
Orthosia alurina
Orthosia garmani
Orthosia hibisci
Orthosia revicta
Orthosia rubescens
Orthosia unidentified species
Ozarba aeria
Pachypolia atricornis
Panthea acronyctoides
Panthea furcilla
Papaipema appassionata
Papaipema araliae
Papaipema arctivorens
Papaipema astuta
Papaipema baptisiae
Papaipema cataphracta
Papaipema cerina
Papaipema cerussata
Papaipema duovata
Papaipema eryngii
Papaipema eupatorii
Papaipema furcata
Papaipema impecuniosa
Papaipema inquaesita
Papaipema insulidens
Papaipema lysimachiae
Papaipema marginidens
Papaipema maritima
Papaipema nebris
Papaipema necopina
Papaipema nelita
Papaipema nepheleptena
Papaipema polymniae
Papaipema pterisii
Papaipema rigida
Papaipema rutila
Papaipema sp. 1
Papaipema sp. 3
Papaipema sp. 4
Papaipema speciosissima
Papaipema stenocelis
Papaipema unidentified species
Papaipema unimoda
Parapamea buffaloensis
Parastichtis suspecta
Peridroma saucia
Perigea xanthioides
Phlogophora iris
Phlogophora periculosa
Phosphila miselioides
Phosphila turbulenta
Photedes carterae
Photedes enervata
Plagiomimicus pityochromus
Platypolia anceps
Platypolia mactata
Polia imbrifera
Polia nimbosa
Polychrysia morigera
Polygrammate cadburyi
Polygrammate hebraeicum
Ponometia candefacta
Ponometia erastrioides
Ponometia exigua
Ponometia parvula
Ponometia semiflava
Ponometia tortricina
Properigea costa complex
Properigea tapeta
Protapamea danieli
Protapamea louisae
Protodeltote muscosula
Protolampra brunneicollis
Proxenus miranda
Psaphida electilis
Psaphida grandis
Psaphida resumens
Psaphida rolandi
Psaphida styracis
Psaphida thaxterianus
Pseudeustrotia carneola
Pseudeva purpurigera
Pseudohermonassa bicarnea
Pseudorthodes unidentified species
Pseudorthodes vecors
Psychomorpha epimenis
Pyreferra ceromatica
Pyreferra citrombra
Pyreferra hesperidago
Pyreferra moffatiana
Pyreferra pettiti
Pyreferra slotteni
Pyreferra unidentified species
Pyrrhia aurantiago
Pyrrhia cilisca
Pyrrhia exprimens
Rachiplusia ou
Raphia frater
Resapamea passer
Resapamea trigona
Schinia arcigera
Schinia bina
Schinia carolinensis
Schinia florida
Schinia gracilenta
Schinia grandimedia
Schinia indiana
Schinia jaguarina
Schinia lucens
Schinia lynx
Schinia mitis
Schinia nubila
Schinia nundina
Schinia obscurata
Schinia rivulosa
Schinia sanguinea
Schinia saturata
Schinia scissoides
Schinia septentrionalis
Schinia siren
Schinia sordidus
Schinia thoreaui
Schinia trifascia
Schinia tuberculum
Schinia unidentified species
Sericaglaea signata
Sideridis congermana
Sideridis rosea
Sideridis ruisa
Spaelotis clandestina
Spiramater lutra
Spodoptera dolichos
Spodoptera eridania
Spodoptera exigua
Spodoptera frugiperda
Spodoptera latifascia
Spodoptera ornithogalli
Spodoptera unidentified species
Spragueia apicalis
Spragueia dama
Spragueia leo
Spragueia onagrus
Stiria rugifrons
Subtribe Xylenina Unidentified Species
Sunira bicolorago
Sutyna privata
Sympistis badistriga
Sympistis chionanthi
Sympistis dinalda
Sympistis perscripta
Syngrapha alias
Syngrapha rectangula
Tarache aprica
Tarache terminimaculata
Tricholita signata
Trichoplusia ni
Trichopolia oviduca
Trichordestra beanii
Trichordestra legitima
Tripudia flavofasciata
Tripudia rectangula
Ulolonche culea
Ulolonche modesta
Xanthopastis regnatrix
Xestia badicollis
Xestia c-nigrum
Xestia dilucida
Xestia dolosa
Xestia dolosa complex
Xestia elimata
Xestia elimata complex
Xestia normanianus
Xestia perquiritata
Xestia praevia
Xestia smithii
Xestia unidentified species
Xylomoia chagnoni
Xylotype capax
Xystopeplus rufago
Hemipachnobia
Members:
Hemipachnobia monochromatea
Hemipachnobia subporphyrea
18 NC Records
Hemipachnobia subporphyrea
(Walker, 1858) - Venus Flytrap Cutworm Moth
view caption
Male (top), female (bottom). Specimens and photo from J.B. Sullivan.
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea
Family:
Noctuidae
Subfamily:
Noctuinae
Tribe:
Noctuini
P3 Number:
933545.00
MONA Number:
10993.00
Comments:
Hemipachnobia is a North American genus composed of two species, both of which have been recorded in eastern North Carolina. The genus Hemipachnobia was defined by McDunnough in 1929, with H. monochromatea designated as the type species (McDunnough, 1929; Lafontaine, 1998). Although Smith (1891) tentatively listed subporphyrea as a synonym of monochromatea, other authors treated the two species as belonging to separate genera until relatively recently (Hall and Sullivan, 2000).
Species Status:
Hemipachnobia subporphyrea was described (as Mythimna subporphyrea) by Walker (1858), based on an apparently now vanished male specimen in the British Museum (Lafontaine, 1998). This specimen, along with two additional females in the British Museum -- one now designated as a lectotype by Lafontaine (1998) -- were identified as having come from “Georgia” but no other collection data was given, including the identity of the collector. Forbes (1954) treated subporphyrea as a subspecies of monochromatea, although he probably never saw the type specimens of subporphyrea. Lafontaine (1998) was the first to formally recognize the two moths as separate species within Hemipachnobia, based at least partly on the discovery of genitalic differences by McCabe and Schweitzer (Hall and Sullivan, 2000).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Not included in either field guide
Online Resources:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
,
BOLD
Technical Description, Adults:
Lafontaine (1998); Hall and Sullivan (2000)
Technical Description, Immature Stages:
Hall and Sullivan (2004); Wagner et al. (2011)
Adult Markings:
Hemipachnobia subporphyrea is a medium-sized, purplish to reddish brown Noctuid. Head and thorax are concolorous with the ground color of the forewings, which varies from a wine-red shade (a sub-purple", as implied by the species name) to a somewhat rustier shade similar to that of H. monochromatea. Variable amounts of grayish or fuscous scales are mixed in with those of the ground color and there is also a variable but lesser amount of white scaling, both on the wings and thorax. The fuscous scales tend to be most prominent along the veins and in some specimens form conspicuous gray lines. The only obvious markings on the forewings of either species of Hemipachnobia are the antemedian and postmedian lines of the forewings; other spots and lines are completely obsolete,including the orbicular and reniform spots that are usually prominent in Noctuids. The antemedian and postmedian are composed of scales that are either only slightly darker than the ground color, or are a distinctly darker, more fuscous shade than the ground color. Both lines tend to be bordered by white scales, which precede the antemedian and follow the postmedian. In some specimens, the lines are indicated primarily by the white scales (Hall and Sullivan, 2000). Lafontaine (1998) stated that the postmedian is less serrated in monochromatea than in subporphyrea, but in several specimens examined by Hall and Sullivan (2000), the postmedian was as even, or more so, in subporphyrea than in monochromatea. Apart from size, which appears to be consistently different between the two species, other features of the wing patterns overlap at least in some specimens, and we recommend that their identities be established through dissection of the males. Within the range of H. subporphyrea, only a few other spring-flying moths are even remotely similar. Cerastis tenebrifera, which flies about a month earlier in the spring than H. subporphyrea, has bipectinate antennae in the males but is a much deeper maroon than Hemipachnobia and has conspicuous, pale orbicular and reniform spots. Trichosilia manifesta, which flies at the same time as H. subporphyrea, also has bipectinate antennae in the males and has a reddish color phase that resembles Hemipachnobia to some extent. The dark orbicular and solid reniform spots possessed by this moth, however, easily distinguish it from Hemipachnobia, as do the distinctive traits of the tribe Agrotini, to which this species belongs.
Adult Structural Features:
The differences separating males of subporphyrea and monochromatea were discovered by Timothy McCabe and Dale Schweitzer (Schweitzer, 1996) and were formally described and illustrated by Lafontaine (1998). The valve in male subporphyrea has three prominent distal projections, while the valve in monochromatea has only a single distal projection. The juxta of subporphyrea has a triangular, wedge shaped posterior projection, while the juxta of monochromatea, possesses a narrowly conical posterior projection. According to Lafontaine (1998), key differences also separate the females of subporphyrea and monochromatea, with the ductus bursae heavily sclerotized and anteriorly enlarged in subporphyrea and lightly sclerotized and anteriorly tapered in monochromatea.
Structural photos
Male reproductive structures
Aedeagus
Abdominal pelt
Female reproductive structures
Adult ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development:
In a rearing study conducted by Hall and Sullivan (2004), eggs obtained from a wild-caught female were opalescent white and sculptured dorso-ventrally with approximately 35 narrow ribs (larvae were photographed in each instar. First instar larvae typically have a yellowish-brown ground color. No lines are evident in this stage but there are rows of conspicuous blackish tubercles on each segment, out of which grow long, dark setae. The tubercles on the second and third thoracic segments are arranged in a single file, but there are two rows on the first thoracic and on all the abdominal segments, with the tubercles forming an alternating series between them. Second instar larvae are quite different in appearance. The ground color is now a coral pink. The tubercles are less prominent but still present and there are now several light lines running down the length of the body. In addition to a prominent mid-dorsal line, there are two well-marked sub-dorsal lines and a lateral line just above the prolegs. By the end of this instar, the larvae have taken on the thickened appearance typical of cutworms and show some degree of differentiation between a darker dorsal surface and lighter sides. Additional light lines may also be present in between the more prominent lines developed earlier. Third instar larvae are still somewhat translucent, like the earlier instars. The head is pinkish ivory with black ocelli. The ground color of the body is initially a fairly uniform light peach color but later becomes more divided into a series of green and tan stripes. The dorsal, subdorsal and lateral stripes are still ivory in color. The dorsal and lateral stripes are still prominent, and as in the later stages of the second instar, there are now two prominent lateral lines. The subdorsal stripes still visible but are relatively less well marked than the dorsal of lateral stripes. All ivory longitudinal lines are bordered on both sides by brown lines except the lateral line which has none on the ventral side. Between the subdorsal and lateral longitudinal stripes there are 3 cream stripes and 4 darker brown, with the stripe above the lateral lines typically darker than the rest. The 8th abdominal spiracle is the largest followed by the thoracic spiracle and then the other abdominal spiracles. The prolegs are rose colored and tipped with a grey spot. There are also grey spots above them on the body. The prolegs get slightly larger posteriorly. The ventral color of the abdomen is light tan. Fourth through sixth instars are generally browner and more opaque than the earlier stages and the subdorsal ivory lines more obscure, if present at all. Otherwise the pattern remain fairly constant, with some inter-individual differences.. The mid-dorsal line and the double lateral lines remain prominent features. The yellow mid-dorsal stripe is bordered laterally with brownish-black blotching running more-or-less continuously from the head to the anus. The same blotching repeats ventrally of the subdorsal pale line to the spiracles, which are black. The blotching gives a striped appearance to the body. Ventral of the spiracles, the coloration is a light tan with occasional specks and blotching. In some cases, the tan color of the ventrum extends well up on the sides and, along with the two light lateral stripes, gives the body a two-toned appearance, with a darker dorsum and lighter flanks. In other cases, the lighter area on the sides is more confined (perhaps related to amount of feeding?). The head is tan with blotches of very small speckles in an asymmetrical pattern. The labrum is paler, clear of markings and pinkish cream in color. The ommatidia are ruby colored or black. The larvae are extremely slow growing, as was noted by David Stephan, the first to rear this species. No diapause was observed; larvae fed throughout the entire study period. This contrasts with the behavior of its congener, H. monochromatea, which enters a diapause in the second instar (T. McCabe, pers. comm.). Unfortunately, none of the larvae ever pupated.
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
In North Carolina, H. subporypyrea appears to be confined to the Outer Coastal Plain; efforts to find it in the Fall-line Sandhills at Fort Bragg, where the westernmost populations of Venus Flytrap occur, were unsuccessful.
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:
Hemipachnobia subporphyrea is univoltine: adults have been captured as early as March 24 and worn specimens have been taken as late as May 9. The majority of records are from mid-April (Hall and Sullivan, 2000).
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
All of our records come from Longleaf Pine savannas and flatwoods. All but one come from sites where populations of Venus Flytraps exist and the one exception came from an area where flytraps may have existed at the time of the capture -- a specimen of Photedes carterae was collected at the same site and it feeds solely on Pinebarrens Reedgrass, a species that is usually found in close association with flytraps.
Larval Host Plants:
Aubrey Shaw (pers. comm. to SPH) found larvae feeding on cultivated flytraps growing under semi-natural conditions on his farm in Bladen County and near where he had originally collected his plants. Although he occasionally found larvae on his plants as early as the 1970's, the caterpillars were particularly numerous in 1986 and did extensive damage to his plants. Two larvae he collected were given to David Stephan for determination (D. Stephan, pers. comm.). Stephan subsequently reared both larvae to adulthood, feeding them solely on flytraps. In the rearing study conducted by Hall and Sullivan (2004), larvae were successfully fed on Sundews -- the host plant of H. monochromatea -- and later instar larvae did well feeding on Vaccinium crassifolium, a procumbent heath that grows abundantly at sites where subporphyrea has been recorded. In this regard, subporphyrea may show a switch in host plants similar to that observed in monochromatea, which Hooker (1919) observed to switch from using sundews in the earlier instars to cranberry in the later stages. Larvae of subporphyrea have not been observed in the wild (despite several search attempts), and it is not known if they feed naturally on either sundews or Vaccinium crassifolium. However, no populations of the moth have yet been found at sites where only sundews are present, at least in North Carolina. -
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Observation Methods:
Comes at least sparingly to blacklights but efforts to collect it using bait have not worked so far. Larvae have been searched for on several occasions but have yet to be found in natural conditions in the field (specimens found by Aubry Shaw and David Stephan were collected in artificial flytrap growing beds).
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for
Wet, Sandy, Fire-maintained Herblands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
SR
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
G1 S1?
State Protection:
Listed as Significantly Rare by the Natural Heritage Program. That designation, however, does not confer any legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:
This species appears to be extremely rare globally, not having been collected between the late 1700s and 1974, when a population was rediscovered in North Carolina. Since then, populations have been recorded at only five more sites in North Carolina and only one has been found outside of this state, by John Glaser in Maryland in 1998. Until Glaser's discovery outside the range of Venus Flytraps and the discovery by Hall and Sullivan (2004) that North Carolina larvae could also feed on sundews, the association between subporphyrea and Dionaea muscipula seemed very strong and provided a good explanation for the rarity of this species: flytraps do not naturally occur beyond a 100 mile radius of Wilmington, NC and their distribution has been greatly fragmented and reduced with the destruction of Longleaf Pine savannas. Even within surviving areas of natural habitat, the combination of fire suppression and poaching has eliminated many populations of this plant, as well as, presumably, populations of the moth -- at least one population discovered in the early 1990s appears to have been extirpated due fire suppression. On the other hand, the moth does not appear to survive through a fire; in areas that have been burned on an annual basis -- even where supporting very large populations of the flytraps -- no Hemipachnobia have been found even after intensive sampling efforts. Like many moths associated with fire-maintained savanna habitats, subporphyrea is likely to depend on a metapopulation strategy to survive disturbances to its habitats. With flytrap populations becoming increasingly small and isolated, that strategy is becoming increasingly hard to follow. If it were actually using sundews in addition to flytraps, it would have a greater chance of survival. However, we have yet to find any populations of this moth in North Carolina where only sundews exist and no flytraps. Although there is still much to be learned about this species, it currently appears to be one of our most endangered species.
Photo Gallery for
Hemipachnobia subporphyrea
- Venus Flytrap Cutworm Moth
Photos: 5
Recorded by: SPH and JBS on 2001-04-19
Carteret Co.
Comment: Live male caught in a live trap.
Recorded by: SPH and JBS on 2001-04-19
Carteret Co.
Comment: First instar larvae feeding on a flytrap. Reared from eggs obtained from a wild-caught female collected on 2010-04-19.
Recorded by: SPH and JBS on 2001-04-19
Carteret Co.
Comment: Egg and early instar larvae. The bottom two shots are of a larva reared on Sundew
Recorded by: SPH and JBS on 2001-04-19
Carteret Co.
Comment: Mid to late instar larvae
Recorded by: SPH and JBS on 2001-04-19
Carteret Co.
Comment: Last instar larvae; the dark one is pre-pupal