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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Limacodidae Members:
Acharia stimulea
Adoneta bicaudata
Adoneta pygmaea
Adoneta spinuloides
Apoda biguttata
Apoda rectilinea
Apoda y-inversa
Euclea delphinii
Heterogenea shurtleffi
Isa textula
Isochaetes beutenmuelleri
Lithacodes fasciola
Monoleuca semifascia
Natada nasoni
Packardia ceanothi
Packardia elegans
Packardia geminata
Parasa chloris
Parasa indetermina
Phobetron pithecium
Prolimacodes badia
Tortricidia flexuosa of authors
Tortricidia pallida of authors
Tortricidia testacea
Parasa
Members:
Parasa chloris
Parasa indetermina
59 NC Records
Parasa indetermina
(Boisduval, 1832) - Stinging Rose Caterpillar Moth
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Zygaenoidea
Family:
Limacodidae
P3 Number:
57a0094
MONA Number:
4699.00
Comments:
This is one of two members of this genus that are found in North America, both of which occur in North Carolina.
Species Status:
Prior to the use of modern insecticides, this species caused serious damage to commercially grown rosebushes (Chittenden 1913). This, and the fact that it stings, is the basis for the common name.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)
Online Resources:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
,
BOLD
Technical Description, Adults:
Forbes (1923)
Technical Description, Immature Stages:
Dyar, 1897a; Marquis et al. (2019)
Adult Markings:
This is a distinctive species that is bicolored and very similar to
Parasa chloris
. 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. The posterior edge of the green median area typically has a weak concavity just below the inner margin, then continues towards the costa as a broadly rounded mark. The subapical area adjacent to the outer margin has a diffuse dark brown blotch near the middle of the wing. 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 that is diagnostic for this species. Worn specimens may be difficult to distinguish, but can be identified using genitalia.
Wingspan:
2.3-3.0 mm (Covell, 1984)
Structural photos
Male reproductive structures
Aedeagus
Adult ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development:
Most of our knowledge about the life history are from studies by Dyar (1897a) and Chittenden (1913) in the northeastern United States. Dyar (1897a) noted that the eggs are laid in July in New York, either singly or in small, overlapping groups. Hatching occurs in around nine days and the larvae reach the final developmental stage in September. They live and feed on the undersides of leaves and have 8-9 instars, with the final instar varying from 16-22 mm in length. Dyar (1897a) found that the larvae tend to feed low to the ground on either shrubs or saplings. They do not feed gregariously, but a single bush can have as many as a dozen larvae feeding on it. The larvae spin flattened, brownish overwintering cocoons on the ground in late summer or early autumn, sometimes between two leaves that are drawn together (Chittenden, 1913). Pupation presumably occurs during the spring.
The early instar larvae are dark maroon-brown with three thin, faint mid-dorsal longitudinal stripes and six pairs of stout conical yellow-orange dorsal appendages that bear spines (Marquis et al., 2019). The ground color of the mature larva can be yellow, red or orangish. The mid-dorsal area has four thin, black, longitudinal lines on a bluish-gray background, while the subdorsal area is white closest to the midline. The remainder of the dorsolateral area has orange, white, or black longitudinal stripes. The lateral and subventral areas are also striped as above, and the ventral area is light purple (Marquis et al., 2019). There are six pairs of long dorsal appendages with stinging spines, with those on the thorax shorter than the others. Smaller clusters of stinging spines are also present on all body segments along the lower sides. The spines have venom in their bases that enter the skin when the spines puncture the skin and break off. The sting is moderate and is typically followed by local inflammation and itching.
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
Parasa indetermina
is found in the eastern US from southern Massachusetts southward to central Florida, and westward to easterrn Texas, Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.
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
Immature 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:
The adults have been found from February through October in different areas of the range, with the great majority from June through September. Local populations in North Carolina are single-brooded. As of 2023, our records range from early June through early September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Our records are mostly from sites with deciduous or mixed pine-hardwood forests, and encompass a wide range of moisture conditions from alluvial forests and mesic mountain slopes, to dry or xeric habitats such as Longleaf Pine savannas in the Sandhills. Local populations also commonly occur in semi-wooded residential neighborhoods and along forest edges and wooded fencerows.
Larval Host Plants:
The larvae are polyphagous and feed mostly on deciduous trees (Dyar, 1897a; Wagner, 2005; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010; Marquis et al., 2019). The reported hosts include maples (
Acer
), Common Pawpaw (
Asimina triloba
), hickories (
Carya
), Sweet Chestnut (
Castanea sativa
), Eastern Redbud (
Cercis canadensis
), Florida Dogwood (
Cornus florida
) and other dogwoods, domestic apples (
Malus domestica
), Northern Bayberry (
Morella pensylvanica
), American Sycamore (
Platanus occidentalis
), poplars (
Populus
), Sweet Cherry (
Prunus avium
), Black Cherry (
P. serotina
), pears (
Pyrus
), White Oak (
Quercus alba
), Black Oak (
Q. velutina
), brambles (
Rubus
), willows (
Salix
), Sourwood (
Oxydendrum arboreum
), blueberries (
Vaccineum
) and viburnums (
Viburnum
). -
View
Observation Methods:
The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found by searching the undersides of leaves.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for
General Forests and Shrublands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
G4 S4
State Protection:
Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:
This species occurs statewide and uses a wide variety of host species. It appears to be secure within the state.
Photo Gallery for
Parasa indetermina
- Stinging Rose Caterpillar Moth
Photos: 24
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-07-21
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-06-28
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2021-09-04
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-07-15
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2020-09-09
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-06-05
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Parker Backstrom on 2017-07-28
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-07-03
McDowell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2016-08-19
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Beane on 2015-08-22
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: C.Helms on 2014-09-16
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: F. Williams on 2014-09-10
Gates Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2014-07-26
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2014-07-15
Warren Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2013-08-26
Gates Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2013-07-02
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2013-07-02
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-07-03
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2011-07-08
Beaufort Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2011-07-08
Beaufort Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: J. Davidson on 2009-09-09
Robeson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: ASH on 2008-10-01
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: FKW on 2007-07-17
Gates Co.
Comment: