Moths of North Carolina
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160 NC Records

Cycnia tenera Hübner, 1818 - Delicate Cycnia Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: ArctiiniP3 Number: 930404.00 MONA Number: 8230.00
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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical 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)

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