Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members: 126 NC Records

Cycnia tenera Hübner, 1818 - Delicate Cycnia Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: ArctiiniP3 Number: 930404.00 MONA Number: 8230.00
Comments: One of five species in this genus that occur in North America (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010), four of which have been recorded in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, BAMONATechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1960); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Fore-wings are white and somewhat transclucent; head, thorax, and the costa of the forewing are deep yellow. Similar to Cycnia inopinatus but is larger, usually a purer white, and has the yellow costal stripe reaching well beyond the mid-point, often nearly to the apex of the forewing; legs are bicolored, unlike the solid lead gray in inopinatus. Most specimens should be easily distinguishable based on a good quality photograph.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are covered with long, soft gray hair (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs statewide.
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: Wagner (2005) states that there are two to three generations per year; our data appear to show three peaks but with adults present essentially throughout the growing season.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Found in a wide variety of open habitats, including old field and road edges, where Dogbane is often abundant.
Larval Host Plants: Monophagous, feeding solely on Hemp Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum).
Observation Methods: Comes moderately well to blacklights and is often observed during the day, especially near patches of Dogbane. None of our records come from bait.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Apocynaceous Forblands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Common, widespread, and uses a wide variety of habitats, including early successional and disturbed areas; appears to be quite secure.

 Photo Gallery for Cycnia tenera - Delicate Cycnia Moth

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

Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-08-24
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2021-08-09
Alamance Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-07-23
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-15
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-14
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-14
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-09-29
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-08-26
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-08-24
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-08-14
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-02
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-02
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-30
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-09-01
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2019-08-15
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: L. M. Carlson on 2019-08-04
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-08-02
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-06-05
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2019-05-26
Bertie Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-05-25
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell and Simpson Eason on 2019-05-25
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-08-23
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2018-08-11
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-05
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: j.wyche on 2017-07-21
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-05-22
McDowell Co.
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Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2015-07-18
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-06-10
Warren Co.
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