Moths of North Carolina
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820 NC Records

Hypoprepia fucosa Hübner, [1831] - Painted Lichen Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: LithosiiniP3 Number: 930205.00 MONA Number: 8090.00
Comments: One of four members of this genus in North America, two of which occur in North Carolina. Some populations of both fucosa and miniata show strong departures in size and coloration from the typical patterns and may represent undescribed species (Wagner, 2005).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1960); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Tricolored, with bands of red, yellow, and slate gray bands on the forewings; the head is also usually yellowish, the thorax red with a central spot of gray, and the abdomen mostly gray; hindwings are usually pale pink with an outward border of gray. Smaller but similar in pattern to H. miniata, which is usually more strongly bicolored with scarlet and gray. Sizes and coloration of both species can vary, however, with some specimens having the tricolored pattern of fucosa as large as typical miniata. Fucosa usually has a narrower gray margin on the hindwings and miniata usually lacks the dark central spot on the thorax; the abdomen of miniata is also usually red (Forbes, 1960).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are mottled yellow on black, with strong black spines; the amount of yellow is usually reduced in fucosa compared to miniata (Wagner, 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Occurs statewide
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: Has two distinct flights in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain but only a single, mid-season flight in the Mountains, situated between the two flights in the eastern part of the state
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Has one of the broadest range of habitats of any moth in the state. It is common to abundant in maritime forests and scrub, Coastal Fringe Sandhills, Longleaf Pine savannas and flatwoods, peatlands, riparian forests, mesic- and dry-to-xeric upland hardwoods.
Larval Host Plants: Like most Lithosiines, probably feeds on lichens, bark algae, and Cyanobacteria.
Observation Methods: Comes abundantly to blacklights but none of our records come from bait
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: This is one of our most abundant and ubiquitous species, occurring in most forested and wooded habitats across the state. It appears to be quite secure.

 Photo Gallery for Hypoprepia fucosa - Painted Lichen Moth

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

Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-09-06
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2023-08-25
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-08-19
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Macon 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: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-11
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-04
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-06-14
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-06-14
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-10
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-06-02
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-02
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-25
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-05-22
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-05-22
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-21
Orange Co.
Comment: