Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members: Cycnia Members: 167 NC Records

Cycnia tenera Hübner, 1818 - Delicate Cycnia

Cycnia teneraCycnia teneraCycnia teneraCycnia tenera
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Erebidae		Subfamily:
Arctiinae		Tribe:
Arctiini		P3 Number:
930404		 MONA Number:
8230.00		 Other Common Name:
Dogbane Tiger Moth
Comments: This is one of three species in this genus that occur in North America, all of which have been recorded in North Carolina. Cycnia inopinatus is a previously described species that has been recorded from North Carolina, but was synonymized with C. collaris based on comparison of genitalic structures and DNA barcode variation (Pohl and Nanz, 2023).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1960); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Forewings are white and somewhat transluscent; 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.
Structural photos
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.
Cycnia teneraAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
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: Larvae feed on dogbane, and are possibly monophagous on Hemp Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum), which has been confirmed as the host in North Carolina. Records for milkweed require confirmation. - View
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 Open Apocynaceous Forblands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]
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

 81 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Cycnia teneraRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Brian Bockhahn on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: David George on 2024-09-30
Durham Co.
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Cycnia teneraRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-12
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-06
Orange Co.
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Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-30
Orange Co.
Comment: On Apocynum sp. in our yard.		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-03
Mitchell Co.
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Cycnia teneraRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-08
Wilson Co.
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Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-07-03
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
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Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-28
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-09-10
Durham Co.
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Cycnia teneraRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-07
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-09-05
Davidson Co.
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Cycnia teneraRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-08-10
Davidson Co.
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Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-07-25
Durham Co.
Comment:
Cycnia teneraRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-24
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-07-18
Durham Co.
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Cycnia teneraRecorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-07-16
Orange Co.
Comment:
Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-07
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-24
Buncombe Co.
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Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Cycnia teneraRecorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-06
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment:
Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-22
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Cycnia teneraRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-18
Wake Co.
Comment: