Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFLimacodidae Members: Parasa Members: 115 NC Records

Parasa chloris (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854) - Smaller Parasa

Parasa chlorisParasa chlorisParasa chlorisParasa chloris
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Zygaenoidea		 Family:
Limacodidae		P3 Number:
57a0093		 MONA Number:
4698.00
Comments: This is one of two members of this genus that are found in North America, both of which occur in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Dyar (1897c); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a distinctive species that is bicolored. The palps, antennae, legs, and ground color of the forewing are warm brown, while the dorsum of the head, the thorax, and portions of the median and basal areas of the forewing form a continuous, broad, bright green band when viewed from the side. The green band on the forewing is edged with a thin dark brown line, and the veins on the apical half are also dark brown. Individuals typically rests in an upright stance on thick, "furry" brown legs, in a slightly "head down" posture.

Parasa chloris is very similar to P. indetermina but is smaller and the posterior edge of the green median area is straight or slightly concave. In addition, the subapical area adjacent to the outer margin is evenly brown (except for the darker brown veins). In Parasa indetermina, the posterior edge of the green median area is more rounded, and the subapical area adjacent to the outer margin has a diffuse dark brown blotch near the middle of the wing. Worn specimens may be difficult to distinguish, but can be identified using genitalia.
Wingspan: 1.8-2.7 cm (Covell, 1984)
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Dyar (1897c) studied the life history of this species in New York where populations are univoltine. In New York the eggs are laid in mid- to late-July and the larvae become mature during late-August through September. Females lay their eggs singly, but often place several on the same leaf. It is not uncommon for two females to oviposit on the same leaf. The larvae rest on the undersides of leaves and feed singly. Dyar (1897c) noted that the larvae typically feed on deciduous trees and never found them on nearby, low-lying shrubby vegetation. They pass through eight instars, with the final instars varying from 10.6-20.3 mm. The final instars spin a cocoon and overwinter on the ground, with pupation occurring in the spring (Marquis et al., 2019).

The larvae are distinctive in being strongly humpbacked with a tail-like structure at the posterior end. The mature larva can be pink, tan, orange, brown or gray, and often with a red and/or white-edged ventral margin and a narrowed and pointed anterior end. The mid-dorsal area often has a broad band that is lighter than the adjoining dorsolateral coloration, along with a thin and often broken black line along the lateral margins of the band. The anterior end has three raised humps with clusters of white stinging spines, with the largest group arising from the top of the hump. The posterior end has two prominent clusters of white stinging spines. Smaller spine clusters that follow along the black dorsolateral line connect the two groups (Marquis et al., 2019; Wagner, 2005). Although early instars of P. chloris somewhat resemble those of Euclea species, they show the characteristic humped-backed body shape with a tail-like structure that is typical of the mature larva (Wagner 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Parasa chloris is found in the eastern US and Ontario, Canada. In the US the range extends from southern New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut southward to central Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, southeastern Iowa and Illinois. This species occurs statewide, but is relatively uncommon in the Coastal Plain where hardwoods are less prevalent.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Parasa chlorisAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.