Moths of North Carolina
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97 NC Records

Dasychira basiflava (Packard, 1864) - Yellow-based Tussock Moth

Dasychira basiflavaDasychira basiflavaDasychira basiflava
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: LymantriinaeTribe: OrgyiiniP3 Number: 930148 MONA Number: 8296.00
Comments: One of 16 species in this genus that occur in North America, 10 of which have been recorded in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (1978)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Both Forbes (1948) and Ferguson (1978) provide keys to the larvae.                                                                                  
Adult Markings: Males are mottled. The median area is whitish towards the costa and over the cell but becomes a darker gray-green towards the inner margin; the basal and outer thirds of the wing are a mixture of yellowish, brown, gray-green, fuscous and white, usually with a yellow-brown (luteous) patch near the base in the fold (Forbes, 1948). The lines are fine and black; the postmedian can be somewhat dentate but is generally not sinuous -- concave towards the costa but irregular below the tooth at M3 towards the inner magin (Forbes, 1948). This species is very similar in pattern to D. meridionalis, which used to be considered a southern subspecies of basiflava. Compared to meridionalis (particularly D. meridionalis memorata), basiflava is larger and with less contrast between the median area and the basal and subterminal areas; it also has a more undulate postmedian (Ferguson, 1978). Barred forms appear to be absent in meridionalis but occur in basiflava, particularly the females (Ferguson, 1978).
Adult Structural Features: Dasychira species have two dorsal tufts on their abdomens, whereas Orgyia have just one. Adults lack mouthparts. D. basiflava cannot be distinguished genitalically in either sex from meridionalis, but slight differences separate basiflava, vagans, and dorsipennata (Ferguson, 1978).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae of this species have a pair of dark hair pencils at the posterior end but only a short dorsal tuft on A8 rather than a long hair pencil. Larvae of vagans are similar in this regard but are generally lighter: in basiflava, the dorsal tufts are nearly black and the tufts along the sides are gray or brown; in vagans, the dorsal, brush-like tufts on segments are light brown or gray and the tufts along the sides of the body are pure white. Larvae of meridionalis are also similar in terms of their posterior hair pencils but have black club-shaped plumose hairs along the sides of the body arising from tubercles located both above and below the spiracles whereas basivlava has lateral black hairs originating only from below the spiracles (see Ferguson, 1978, for details).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Ferguson (1978) thought the dividing line between northern basiflava and southern meridionalis was located somewhere in the middle of North Carolina, giving the range of meridionalis memorata from Southern Pines, NC to northern Florida. Our records seem to agree, indicating that meridionalis occurs primarily in the southern half of the Coastal Plain in North Carolina, including the Fall-line Sandhills, and that basiflava occurs north of the Pamlico Sound in the Coastal Plain as well as the north-central Piedmont and most of the Mountains. A zone of overlap with meridionalis may occur in the northern portion of the Coastal Plain.
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: Appears to be univoltine, with adults most common in the summer.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come primarily from hardwood forests, including both mesic and dry stands.
Larval Host Plants: Probably polyphagous. Ferguson (1978) stated they use oaks and hickories, with a possible preference for White Oak. Captive larvae, however, were also reared on Sweetgum and willow, and Wagner (2007) lists blueberry, dogwood, and other woody species. - View
Observation Methods: Our records all come from 15 watt UV light traps. Adults do not feed, so do not come to bait or to flowers. Larvae are distinctive and should be looked for on low-growing trees and shrubs. The hair of all Lymantriinae larvae are possibly urticating, however, and should be handled with care (Ferguson, 1978).
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S4S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Appears to be common and widespread in the Mountains and portions of the northern Piedmont. Also feeds on a wide variety of plants and does not appear to be limited by habitat in North Carolina. Seems to be secure in the state.

 Photo Gallery for Dasychira basiflava - Yellow-based Tussock Moth

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

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-04
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-04
Mitchell Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-04
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-04
Mitchell Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-07-12
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-11
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-15
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-15
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-14
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-05
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka, David George on 2023-08-05
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29
Swain Co.
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Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-16
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-06-08
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-06
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-08-08
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stefanie Hedrick on 2022-08-01
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-13
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2021-06-13
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-05-27
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-08-01
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-06-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-06-09
Madison Co.
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