Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Haploa Members:	71 NC Records

Haploa contigua (Walker, 1855) - Neighbor Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Arctiinae

Tribe:
Arctiini

P3 Number:
930344

MONA Number:
8110.00

Other Common Name:
The Neighbor

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 Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical 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) 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: Appears to have a single, mid-season flight

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Records from the Mountains come from both riparian areas (e.g., New River State Park) as well upland forests on slopes and ridges, with perhaps a concentration in mesic habitats. Habitats in the Piedmont may also be mesic but the details are unrecorded.

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). In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded on Buffalo-nut (Pyrularia pubera) and non-native Gregg's Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii). - 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 SNR [S3S4]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species may have a distribution covering the western two-thirds of the state and appears to occupy a moderately wide range of habitats. It is probably secure in the Mountains but more needs to be learned about its distribution, abundance, and habitat associations in the Piedmont before an overall assessment can be made about its conservation status across the entire state.

Photo Gallery for Haploa contigua - Neighbor Moth			41 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-22 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-05 Buncombe Co. Comment: An early-instar larva; these were common on Buffalo-nut, but were not found on nearly Sweet Birch or Northern Red Oak.
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14 Watauga Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-12 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-10 Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-28 Madison Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-24 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-14 Buncombe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-08 Haywood Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-08 Haywood Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-10-09 Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-27 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-06 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-30 Madison Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Chuck Smith and Jim Petranka on 2023-06-29 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-06-29 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-25 Madison Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-22 Caswell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-21 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2021-10-30 Orange Co. Comment: on Conoclinium greggii	Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-10-14 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-10-14 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-30 Buncombe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-06 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-17 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tedi McManus on 2021-06-06 Madison Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Tedi McManus on 2021-06-06 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-11-16 Durham Co. Comment:

Haploa contigua (Walker, 1855) - Neighbor Moth

Photo Gallery for Haploa contigua - Neighbor Moth