Moths of North Carolina
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Significant Contributors
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ACROLEPIIDAE-
ADELIDAE-
AMPHISBATIDAE-
AUTOSTICHIDAE-
BATRACHEDRIDAE-
BEDELLIIDAE-
BLASTOBASIDAE-
BOMBYCIDAE-
BUCCULATRICIDAE-
CARPOSINIDAE-
CHOREUTIDAE-
COLEOPHORIDAE-
COSMOPTERIGIDAE-
COSSIDAE-
CRAMBIDAE-
DEPRESSARIIDAE-
DREPANIDAE-
ELACHISTIDAE-
EPERMENIIDAE-
EPIPYROPIDAE-
EREBIDAE-Erebid Moths
ERIOCRANIIDAE-
EUTELIIDAE-
GALACTICIDAE-
GELECHIIDAE-
GEOMETRIDAE-
GLYPHIDOCERIDAE-
GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE-
GRACILLARIIDAE-
HELIOZELIDAE-
HEPIALIDAE-
HYBLAEIDAE-
INCURVARIIDAE-
LASIOCAMPIDAE-
LECITHOCERIDAE-Long-horned Moths
LIMACODIDAE-
LYONETIIDAE-
MEGALOPYGIDAE-Flannel Moths
MICROPTERIGIDAE-
MIMALLONIDAE-
MOMPHIDAE-Mompha Moths
NEPTICULIDAE-
NOCTUIDAE-Owlet Moths
NOLIDAE-
NOTODONTIDAE-
OECOPHORIDAE-
OPOSTEGIDAE-
PELEOPODIDAE-
PLUTELLIDAE-
PRODOXIDAE-
PSYCHIDAE-Bagworm Moths
PTEROPHORIDAE-
PYRALIDAE-
SATURNIIDAE-Saturniids
SCHRECKENSTEINIIDAE-
SESIIDAE-
SPHINGIDAE-Sphinx Moths
THYATIRIDAE-
THYRIDIDAE-
TINEIDAE-
TISCHERIIDAE-
TORTRICIDAE-
URANIIDAE-
URODIDAE-
XYLORYCTIDAE-
YPONOMEUTIDAE-
YPSOLOPHIDAE-
ZYGAENIDAE-
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Erebidae Members:
Abablemma brimleyana
Allotria elonympha
Amolita fessa
Amolita obliqua
Amolita roseola
Amolita unidentified species
Anomis editrix
Anomis erosa
Anomis flava
Anomis illita
Anticarsia gemmatalis
Apantesis anna
Apantesis arge
Apantesis carlotta
Apantesis doris
Apantesis figurata
Apantesis nais
Apantesis parthenice
Apantesis phalerata
Apantesis phyllira
Apantesis placentia
Apantesis unidentified species
Apantesis virgo
Apantesis virguncula
Apantesis vittata
Arctia caja
Arctia parthenos
Argyrostrotis anilis
Argyrostrotis deleta
Argyrostrotis erasa
Argyrostrotis flavistriaria
Argyrostrotis quadrifilaris
Argyrostrotis sylvarum
Arugisa latiorella
Arugisa lutea
Arugisa unidentified species
Ascalapha odorata
Bleptina caradrinalis
Bleptina inferior
Bleptina sangamonia
Caenurgia chloropha
Caenurgia unidentified species
Caenurgina crassiuscula
Caenurgina erechtea
Caenurgina unidentified species
Calyptra canadensis
Catocala abbreviatella
Catocala aestivalia
Catocala agrippina
Catocala alabamae
Catocala amatrix
Catocala amestris
Catocala amica
Catocala amica complex
Catocala andromedae
Catocala angusi
Catocala blandula
Catocala cara
Catocala carissima
Catocala cerogama
Catocala clintonii
Catocala coccinata
Catocala concumbens
Catocala connubialis
Catocala consors
Catocala crataegi
Catocala dejecta
Catocala dulciola
Catocala epione
Catocala flebilis
Catocala gracilis
Catocala grisatra
Catocala grynea
Catocala habilis
Catocala herodias
Catocala ilia
Catocala ilia-umbrosa
Catocala illecta
Catocala innubens
Catocala insolabilis
Catocala jair
Catocala judith
Catocala lacrymosa
Catocala lincolnana
Catocala lineella
Catocala louiseae
Catocala luctuosa
Catocala maestosa
Catocala marmorata
Catocala messalina
Catocala micronympha
Catocala minuta
Catocala mira
Catocala miranda
Catocala muliercula
Catocala myristica
Catocala nebulosa
Catocala neogama
Catocala obscura
Catocala orba
Catocala palaeogama
Catocala piatrix
Catocala praeclara
Catocala pretiosa
Catocala residua
Catocala retecta
Catocala robinsonii
Catocala sappho
Catocala serena
Catocala similis
Catocala sordida
Catocala subnata
Catocala ulalume
Catocala ultronia
Catocala umbrosa
Catocala unidentified species
Catocala unijuga
Catocala vidua
Celiptera frustulum
Chytolita morbidalis
Chytolita sp. 1
Chytolita sp. 2
Chytolita unidentified species
Cisseps fulvicollis
Cissusa spadix
Cisthene kentuckiensis
Cisthene packardii
Cisthene plumbea
Cisthene subjecta
Cisthene tenuifascia
Clemensia albata
Clemensia ochreata
Clemensia umbrata
Clemensia unidentified species
Colobochyla interpuncta
Cosmosoma myrodora
Crambidia casta
Crambidia lithosioides
Crambidia new species (minute)
Crambidia pallida
Crambidia pura
Crambidia unidentified species
Crambidia uniformis
Crambidia xanthocorpa
Cutina albopunctella
Cutina aluticolor
Cutina arcuata
Cutina distincta
Cycnia collaris
Cycnia oregonensis
Cycnia tenera
Cycnia unidentified species
Dasychira atrivenosa
Dasychira basiflava
Dasychira dorsipennata
Dasychira leucophaea
Dasychira manto
Dasychira meridionalis
Dasychira obliquata
Dasychira plagiata
Dasychira tephra
Dasychira unidentified species
Dasychira vagans
Dinumma deponens
Doryodes bistrialis
Doryodes fusselli
Doryodes spadaria
Doryodes unidentified species
Drasteria grandirena
Drasteria graphica
Dyspyralis illocata
Dyspyralis nigellus
Dyspyralis ocala
Dyspyralis puncticosta
Ephyrodes cacata
Estigmene acrea
Eublemma minima
Eublemma recta
Euchaetes egle
Euclidia cuspidea
Euparthenos nubilis
Gabara distema
Gabara obscura
Gabara pulverosalis
Gabara subnivosella
Gabara unidentified species
Gondysia consobrina
Gondysia similis
Gondysia smithii
Gondysia telma
Gondysia unidentified species
Halysidota cinctipes
Halysidota harrisii
Halysidota tessellaris
Halysidota unidentified species
Haploa clymene
Haploa colona
Haploa confusa
Haploa contigua
Haploa lecontei
Haploa reversa
Haploa unidentified species
Hemeroplanis habitalis
Hemeroplanis new species 1 nr. obliqualis
Hemeroplanis scopulepes
Herminiinae unidentified species
Hormoschista latipalpis
Hypena abalienalis
Hypena appalachiensis
Hypena baltimoralis
Hypena bijugalis
Hypena deceptalis
Hypena degesalis
Hypena edictalis
Hypena eductalis
Hypena humuli
Hypena madefactalis
Hypena manalis
Hypena minualis
Hypena palparia
Hypena ramstadtii
Hypena scabra
Hypena sordidula
Hypena unidentified species
Hypenodes caducus
Hypenodes fractilinea
Hypenodes franclemonti
Hypenopsis calusa
Hypenula cacuminalis
Hypercompe scribonia
Hyperstrotia aetheria
Hyperstrotia flaviguttata
Hyperstrotia nana
Hyperstrotia pervertens
Hyperstrotia secta
Hyperstrotia unidentified species
Hyperstrotia villificans
Hyphantria cunea
Hypocala andremona
Hypoprepia fucosa
Hypoprepia miniata
Hypsoropha hormos
Hypsoropha monilis
Idia aemula
Idia americalis
Idia concisa of authors
Idia denticulalis
Idia diminuendis
Idia forbesii
Idia julia
Idia laurentii
Idia lubricalis
Idia majoralis
Idia rotundalis
Idia scobialis
Idia unidentified species
Isogona tenuis
Lascoria ambigualis
Ledaea perditalis
Lesmone detrahens
Leucanopsis longa
Litoprosopus futilis
Lophocampa caryae
Lophocampa maculata
Lycomorpha pholus
Lymantria dispar
Macrochilo absorptalis
Macrochilo hypocritalis
Macrochilo litophora
Macrochilo louisiana
Macrochilo orciferalis
Macrochilo santerivalis
Manulea bicolor
Melanomma auricinctaria
Melipotis fasciolaris
Melipotis indomita
Melipotis jucunda
Metalectra albilinea
Metalectra diabolica
Metalectra discalis
Metalectra quadrisignata
Metalectra richardsi
Metalectra tantillus
Metallata absumens
Metria amella
Mocis latipes
Mocis marcida
Mocis texana
Mocis unidentified species
Neoplynes eudora
Nigetia formosalis
Orgyia antiqua
Orgyia definita
Orgyia detrita
Orgyia leucostigma
Orgyia unidentified species
Oruza albocostaliata
Oxycilla malaca
Oxycilla mitographa
Pagara simplex
Palthis angulalis
Palthis asopialis
Palthis unidentified species
Pangrapta decoralis
Pangrapta unidentified species
Panopoda carneicosta
Panopoda repanda
Panopoda rufimargo
Panopoda unidentified species
Parahypenodes quadralis
Parallelia bistriaris
Phalaenophana pyramusalis
Phalaenostola eumelusalis
Phalaenostola larentioides
Phalaenostola metonalis
Phoberia atomaris
Phoberia ingenua
Phoberia unidentified species
Phyprosopus callitrichoides
Phytometra rhodarialis
Phytometra unidentified species
Plusiodonta compressipalpis
Pseudanthracia coracias
Ptichodis bistrigata
Ptichodis herbarum
Ptichodis vinculum
Pygarctia abdominalis
Pyrrharctia isabella
Redectis pygmaea
Redectis vitrea
Renia adspergillus
Renia discoloralis
Renia factiosalis
Renia flavipunctalis
Renia fraternalis
Renia nemoralis
Renia new species near discoloralis
Renia salusalis
Renia salusalis-fraternalis
Renia sobrialis
Renia unidentified species
Rivula propinqualis
Rivula stepheni
Rusicada privata
Scolecocampa liburna
Scoliopteryx libatrix
Selenisa sueroides
Sigela basipunctaria
Sigela brauneata
Sigela penumbrata
Sigela rosea
Simplicia cornicalis
Spargaloma sexpunctata
Spiloloma lunilinea
Spilosoma congrua
Spilosoma dubia
Spilosoma latipennis
Spilosoma unidentified species
Spilosoma virginica
Tetanolita floridana
Tetanolita mynesalis
Thysania zenobia
Utetheisa ornatrix
Virbia aurantiaca
Virbia ferruginosa
Virbia laeta
Virbia opella
Virbia rubicundaria
Virbia unidentified species
Zale aeruginosa
Zale bethunei
Zale buchholzi
Zale calycanthata
Zale confusa
Zale curema
Zale declarans
Zale duplicata
Zale fictilis
Zale galbanata
Zale helata
Zale horrida
Zale intenta
Zale intenta/lunifera
Zale lunata
Zale lunifera
Zale metata
Zale metatoides
Zale minerea
Zale new species near buchholzi
Zale obliqua
Zale phaeocapna
Zale pine-feeding complex
Zale squamularis
Zale submediana
Zale undularis
Zale unidentified species
Zale unilineata
Zanclognatha atrilineella
Zanclognatha cruralis
Zanclognatha dentata
Zanclognatha jacchusalis
Zanclognatha laevigata
Zanclognatha lituralis
Zanclognatha marcidilinea
Zanclognatha martha
Zanclognatha minoralis
Zanclognatha obscuripennis
Zanclognatha pedipilalis
Zanclognatha protumnusalis
Zanclognatha theralis
Zanclognatha theralis complex
Zanclognatha unidentified species
Apantesis
Members:
Apantesis anna
Apantesis arge
Apantesis carlotta
Apantesis doris
Apantesis figurata
Apantesis nais
Apantesis parthenice
Apantesis phalerata
Apantesis phyllira
Apantesis placentia
Apantesis unidentified species
Apantesis virgo
Apantesis virguncula
Apantesis vittata
44 NC Records
Apantesis arge
(Drury, 1773) - Arge Moth
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea
Family:
Erebidae
Subfamily:
Arctiinae
Tribe:
Arctiini
P3 Number:
930240.00
MONA Number:
8199.00
MONA Synonym:
Grammia arge
Comments:
The genus
Apantesis
is represented by 43 species in North America, including 13 species in North Carolina. Included along with
A. doris
in subgenus Mimarctia, characterized by their completely pale costal cells as well as other features (Schmidt, 2009).
Species Status:
Molecular analysis of five populations of
A. arge
formed a discrete cluster with low divergence. A 4.9% minimum interspecific difference separates
A. arge
from
A. doris
, the species of
Apantesis
with the greatest similarity (see Fig. 133 in Schmidt, 2009). While these results indicate that
A. arge
is fairly homogeneous, we have noted variations both in the male valves and in the hindwing color and spot size that need further exploration.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)
Online Photographs:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
,
BOLD
Technical Description, Adults:
Forbes (1960); Schmidt (2009)
Technical Description, Immature Stages:
Forbes (1960); Wagner (2005)
Adult Markings:
A pale, pinkish-cream colored Tiger Moth, with the black markings on the forewings reduced to narrow streaks and wedges. The cream-colored costal cell distinguishes arge from all other
Apantesis
except for
A. doris
.
Apantesis arge
and
A. doris
are very similar but Schmidt (2009) gives the following features of the forewing as diagnostic of
A. arge
: a broader pale band overlying vein C1 and the postmedian bent at an acute angle, meeting the costa obliquely rather than at a right angle or more obtusely as in
A. doris
. Schmidt further noted that the pale line along vein A1+2 is partially or entirely fused with the broad cream band running along the inner margin, whereas in
A. doris
it runs completely within the long black streak that runs just inward from the marginal pale band (see Schmidt's (=Neoarctia's) comments in iNATURALIST at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15377769#activity_identification_44104834).
The hindwings are usually pinkish white in
A. arge but more completely pink, orange, or salmon in
A. doris
(Forbes, 1960). However, some of our specimens of
A. arge
also have salmon colored hindwings. A more reliable difference is that the black spots on the hindwing are usually smaller in
A. arge
than in
A. doris
and if larger, then those in the subterminal area are typically split by lines of the pink ground color, particularly along veins C2 and A1+2; in
A. doris
the spots are both large and undivided (Schmidt, 2009).
Forewing Length:
18.3 mm, males; 23.8 mm, females (Schmidt, 2009)
Adult Structural Features:
Schmidt (2009) describes and illustrates several differences distinguishing male
A. arge
from
A. doris
. In
A. arge
, the distal portion of the valve is gradually tapered and has rounded apex; the caudoventral margin is slightly concave. In
A. doris
, the distal portion of valve is narrow, elongate, and crescentic. In specimens we have examined (see Structural Features) the valves appear to be more curved than shown in Schmidt's illustration for
A. arge
, but not as narrow as in
A. doris
.
Structural photos
Valve. J.B. Sullivan and L. Deutschman, Haywood County, 2001-08-17
Valve. J.B. Sullivan and R. Broadwell, Bladen County, 1994-06-03
Dissected males
Aedeagus. J.B. Sullivan and R. Broadwell, Bladen County, 1994-06-03
Aedeagus. J.B. Sullivan and L. Deutschman, Haywood County, 2001-08-17
Adult ID Requirements:
Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development:
Larvae are grayish purple to charcoal with prominent mid-dorsal and sub-dorsal white stripes (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005). Setae are generally softer than in other
Apantesis
. Larvae of
A. doris
are similar but the pale stripes are narrower and the sub-dorsal lines broken into separate spots.
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
Occurs over most of the state but records are missing from the Outer Banks and other barrier islands and from the High Mountains
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:
Two generations exist over most of the East (Wagner, 2005), which appears to be true for both the Piedmont and Coastal Plain in North Carolina. However, there may just be a single flight in the Mountains.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Schmidt (2009) states that "
Grammia (Apantesis) arge
is often a common species of dry woodlands, meadows, pastures, and grasslands." Wagner (2005) also lists dunes, sand plains, and waste lots. Our records come from a variety of primarily open areas, including Longleaf Pine sandhills, diabase barrens, and river and lake shorelines. However, we do not have any records from the dune grasslands of barrier islands.
Larval Host Plants:
Members of this genus are highly polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of herbaceous plants, with Dicots possibly preferred (Schmidt, 2009). Brimley (1938) mentions that
Chenopodium
is used in North Carolina. BugGuide records show larvae apparently feeding on
Opuntia
and
Persicaria
. -
View
Observation Methods:
Comes to blacklights, but usually just as single individuals. The mouthparts are non-functional (Singer, 2000, cited in Schmidt, 2009), so it does not come to bait.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
G5 [S4]
State Protection:
Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:
Occurs in a variety of habitats across the state but appears to be fairly sparsely distributed. Probably secure, but more needs to be learned about its distribution and habitat requirements.
Photo Gallery for
Apantesis arge
- Arge Moth
Photos: 19
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-06
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-05
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2023-07-05
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-21
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-06
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-11
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-11
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-11
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2013-08-12
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2013-08-12
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2010-08-17
Warren Co.
Comment: Confirmed via specimen by Bo Sullivan
Recorded by: FKW on 2009-09-10
Gates Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2002-05-16
Cumberland Co.
Comment: Male; wingspan = 4.0 cm; forewing length = 1.9 cm
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan and L. Deutschman on 2001-08-17
Haywood Co.
Comment: Collected at 2900’
Recorded by: JBSullivan & LDeutschman on 2001-08-15
Swain Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2001-06-25
Haywood Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: S. Hall on 2000-02-24
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 1992-05-31
Granville Co.
Comment: Found in grass