Moths of North Carolina
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Haploa Members:
65 NC Records

Haploa contigua (Walker, 1855) - Neighbor Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: ArctiiniP3 Number: 930344.00 MONA Number: 8110.00
Comments: One of six species currently recognized in North America, all of which occur in North Carolina
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. The forewings are white and outlined on all margins with black (usually interrupted at the wing angles). As in lecontei and confusa, a short diagonal line runs from beyond the mid-point on the costa to the inner margin above the anal angle, and is joined by a line that runs from the outer margin just below the apex. Unlike confusa and at least some forms of lecontei, contigua lacks any lines or spurs in the antemedial portion of the forewing. Unlike the paler forms of lecontei, which lack any markings in the antemedial area, the diagonal line running down from the costa is usually much stronger than the one that runs in from the outer margin; in lecontei, the diagonal line may be missing and only the one running in from the outer margin to the inner margin may be present. A good photograph is usually enough to identify this species, although all white forms exist that are essentially indistinguishable from similar forms found in 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). Larvae of contigua can be distinguished by possessing thin, white dorsal and sub-doral lines and by a bold and complete yellow lateral stripe (Wagner, 2005).
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: The majority of our records come from the Mountains, where this species appears to be generally distributed. A few records also exist from the Piedmont, including from montane-like habitat at Hanging Rock State Park but also from more typical Piedmont habitats as far east as Wake County. This species may turn out to have a much wider distribution in the Piedmont than is currently known.
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)

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