Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Notodontidae Members:	Heterocampa Members:	336 NC Records

Heterocampa umbrata Walker, 1855 - White-blotched Heterocampa

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Notodontidae

Subfamily:
Heterocampinae

P3 Number:
930082

MONA Number:
7990.00

Other Common Name:
White-blotched Prominent

Comments: Heterocampa umbrata was recently split into two species by Miller et al. (2021) based on differences in genitalia and larval characters, with populations in Florida and southern Georgia being recognized as a separate species (H. umbrata, sensu stricto) from the remaining populations in eastern North America (H. pulverea). However, our barcoding analyses for specimens from throughout the range do not support the view that the Florida and southern Georgia populations constitute a separate evolutionary lineage that merits recognition as a separate species. Specimens from this region are very similar genetically to those from areas outside of Florida and southern Georgia and are nested among other populations of H. pulverea (sensu Miller et al., 2021). Here, we continue to treat these two forms as a single species (H. umbrata) until additional studies are conducted on genetic and morphological variation in the species, particularly in the contact zone of the these forms in southern Georgia and vicinity.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

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

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution:

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come from virtually all types of oak-containing habitats across the state, from maritime forests to high elevation hardwoods.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on oaks (Wagner, 2005). Reports from other hosts require confirmation. In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded feeding on Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) and White Oak (Q. alba). - View

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]

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

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Heterocampa umbrata - White-blotched Heterocampa

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-19 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-14 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-09-05 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Marilyn Westphal. on 2025-09-05 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock on 2025-08-25 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock on 2025-08-25 Rutherford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Kevin Bischof, Rich Teper, Patrick Coin on 2025-08-16 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-14 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-11 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-11 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Hutson on 2025-08-03 Gaston Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, David Cheng, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-28 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-28 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-18 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-17 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-11 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-11 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-20 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kenneth Geisert, David Bradley, Julie Tuttle, Patrick Coin, Kaitlyn Elliott, Becky Watkins on 2024-08-17 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-06 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-04 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-04 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-27 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-27 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Patrick Coin, Mark Basinger on 2024-06-16 Chatham Co. Comment: