Moths of North Carolina
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9 NC Records

Haploa reversa (Stretch, 1885) - Reversed Haploa Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: ArctiiniP3 Number: 930343.00 MONA Number: 8109.00
Comments: One of six species currently recognized in North America, all of which occur in North Carolina. Forbes (1960) considered H. reversa to be just a form of H. colona, distinguished only by its all white hind-wings.
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: One of four species of Haploa that have all white hindwings, but with the forewing pattern more similar to that of H. colona, which has orange hindwings: the forewings are white and outlined on all margins with black (usually interrupted at the wing angles). A long dark line runs diagonally from before the midpoint on the costal margin all the way to the anal angle, usually with two other dark lines running from the costa to the diagonal line, and two narrower lines running from the diagonal line to the outer margin, dividing the apex of the wing into several white spots. In other Haploas with all-white hindwings, lines (or spurs) starting before the midpoint of the costa run downward towards the inner margin well before its midpoint, not to the anal angle; other lines projecting from the costa start well beyond its midpoint. As long as both fore- and hindwings are shown, a photograph is usually sufficient to identify this species. All white forms exist, however, that may be indistinguishable from similar forms of the other species.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: Larvae are yellow and black striped with sparse hair and warts, as is true for several other Haploas (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005). In both reversa and colona, there is also a reddish or orange mid-dorsal stripe (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: North Carolina records are currently limited to the Fall-line Sandhills and the Bladen Lakes area of the Inner Coastal Plain
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
Flight Comments: Probably has a single, mid-summer flight
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The majority of our records come from Longleaf Pine sandhills habitats, or from sandhill seepage slopes, i.e., wet boggy areas located where groundwater flows out onto the surface of otherwise dry sandhills. Mountain records also come from open wetland habitats.
Larval Host Plants: Probably polyphagous, feeding on many species of herbaceous and woody plants, but possibly preferring species in the Asteraceae and Boraginaceae (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005) - View
Observation Methods: Comes moderately well to blacklights, but none of our records come from bait; flushes easily during the day and appears to be at least partially diurnal
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: Appears to be a habitat specialist and confined to just a small region of the state. If true, then this species could be highly vulnerable to the effects of habitat reduction and fragmentation.

 Photo Gallery for Haploa reversa - Reversed Haploa Moth

Photos: 4

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-31
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2018-07-02
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jackie Nelson / Doug Blatny on 2013-07-07
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: SPH on 2001-05-30
Hoke Co.
Comment: Male; wingspan = 4.8 cm; forewing length = 2.3 cm