Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members: Hypoprepia Members: 928 NC Records

Hypoprepia fucosa Hübner, [1831] - Painted Lichen Moth


Hypoprepia fucosaHypoprepia fucosaHypoprepia fucosaHypoprepia fucosa
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea
Family:
Erebidae
Subfamily:
Arctiinae
Tribe:
Lithosiini
P3 Number:
930205
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 Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, 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).
Wingspan: 25-35 mm (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.
Hypoprepia fucosaAlamance 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.
Immature 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: immatures.
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: Hosts are poorly documented, but like most Lithosiines, it probably feeds on lichens, bark algae, and cyanobacteria. - View
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 SNR [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

243 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26
Madison Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-14
Yancey Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-14
Yancey Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27
Rowan Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25
Mitchell Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23
Buncombe Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2025-06-21
Carteret Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20
Richmond Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14
Rowan Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-12
Wilson Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-06
Moore Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-05
Wilson Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-03
Currituck Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31
Brunswick Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31
Brunswick Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-29
Wilson Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-23
Richmond Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-23
Richmond Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-23
Richmond Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2025-05-22
Carteret Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-05-22
Moore Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-19
Durham Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
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Hypoprepia fucosaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
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