Moths of North Carolina

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Cisseps fulvicollis (Hübner, [1818]) - Yellow-collared Scape Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Arctiinae

Tribe:
Arctiini

P3 Number:
930440

MONA Number:
8267.00

Comments: One of three species in this genus that occur in North America (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010), and the only one found 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)

Adult Markings: Fore-wings are narrow and colored brown to blackish gray; the head is black with a yellow or orange vertex; the collar is also yellow or orange, the thorax dark gray, and the body deep blue-black. Sometimes confused with Ctenucha virginica, which has similar coloration but is much larger, broader-winged, and has an iridescent blue thorax (and not yet observed south of Virginia). Also similar to Harrisina americana, which is smaller, more slender, and with the abdomen widened posteriorly; males of Harrissina also have more broadly pectinate antennae. Acoloithus falsarius is another similarly colored, narrow-winged species but is much smaller. Usually, a good quality photograph should be sufficient as the basis for a record for this species.

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Larvae are fairly distinctive, with yellow and dark brown longitudinal stripes and comparatively sparse and silky setae (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 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 principal generations per year, which appear to be supported by our data.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Found in a wide variety of open and forested habitats, ranging from dune grasslands and maritime forests on the barrier islands to river bottoms, sandhills, and dry ridges; uses old field habitats and other disturbed areas in addition to purely natural areas.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are oligophagous, feeding on grasses and sedges (Wagner, 2005). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: Diurnally active and often seen feeding on flowers. Also comes well to blacklights, with up to 77 being collected in a single trap.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Fields

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]

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

Comments: Abundant, widespread, and occupying a very wide range of habitats; this species is one of the most secure in the state.

Photo Gallery for Cisseps fulvicollis - Yellow-collared Scape Moth

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

	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-06-21 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-11-18 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-10-28 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-10-15 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-09-05 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-07 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-12 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-29 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-25 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-01 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner on 2024-04-19 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-03-31 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dawn-Michelle Oliver on 2023-11-17 Caswell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dawn-Michelle Oliver on 2023-11-17 Caswell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dawn-Michelle Oliver on 2023-11-17 Caswell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-10-25 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-10-23 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2023-10-23 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-10-02 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-09-13 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-08-30 Polk Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Terrell Tucker on 2023-08-24 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Travis McLain on 2023-08-08 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-18 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-06-03 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-05-15 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-12 Wake Co. Comment: