Moths of North Carolina
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902 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 fucosa
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: 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

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

Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-05-22
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-05-22
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-19
Durham 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 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-21
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-12
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-07
Alamance Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-06
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-04
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-03
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-01
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-08-31
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-31
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-08-15
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-14
Pamlico Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-06
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2024-08-06
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-03
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2024-07-14
Macon Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2024-07-13
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-12
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-11
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-10
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-07
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-27
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-24
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
Comment: