Moths of North Carolina
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28 NC Records

Dasychira atrivenosa (Palm, 1873) - No Common Name

Dasychira atrivenosaDasychira atrivenosaDasychira atrivenosa
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: LymantriinaeTribe: OrgyiiniP3 Number: 930151 MONA Number: 8299.00
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: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (1978)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Ferguson (1978) provides a key to the larvae.                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Unlike any of our other species of Dasychira, D. atrivenosa is pale yellowish-brown with no obvious divisions between basal, median, and subterminal areas except for some whitish patches subterminally. The antemedian is diffuse or obscure and the postmedian is also weak although more often present. The veins are prominently overlain by dark streaks, particularly along the Cubitus. Although some forms of D. obliquata also have dark lines atop the veins, they usually also have a thin, pointed bar that is missing in atrivenosa.
Adult Structural Features: Dasychira species have two dorsal tufts on their abdomens, whereas Orgyia have just one. Adults lack mouthparts. Males of atrivenosa differ from other members of this genus in having a long, slender aedeagus, with a typically dense patch of small, dorsal teeth at the apex (Ferguson, 1978).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are silvery gray, similar to those of basiflava, but the hair pencils at the posterior end are reduced or absent. Larvae of obliquata also lack the posterior hair pencils but are brownish gray; lateral, club-shaped black hairs are present along most of the body but are largely missing in obliquata (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: All of our records come from 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: Adults have been recorded throughout the summer and into the early fall. However, we do not have enough information to determine whether there are separate flights or peaks in activity.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: All of our records come either from wet hardwood forests or from habitats adjoining such forests. Two were recorded from lakeshore habitats just above the Fall-line in the Piedmont. All of the rest come from the Coastal Plain, mostly from small stream swamp forests in the Outer Coastal Plain or streamhead swamp forests in the Sandhills.
Larval Host Plants: Ferguson (1978) successfully reared larvae on Sweetgum, but from larvae obtained ex ovo (from eggs from a wild caught female); host plants used in the wild are apparently unknown. Sweetgum is so common and widespread that if that were a main host plant, it would seem that D. atrivenosa should likewise be far more ubiquitous. Considering its association with small, blackwater swamp forests in the Coastal Plain, Laurel Oak or Swamp Blackgum -- both essentially restricted to such habitats - seem more likely as host plants. A BugGuide record from Texas (George Smiley, 2014) shows a caterpillar feeding on Sweetgum in Texas, but we have yet to observe any larvae in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: Comes at least somewhat well to 15 watt UV blacklights. Adults do not feed and do not come to bait or visit flowers. Larvae should be sought in appropriate habitats to determine their natural host plants.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Sweetgum Groves and Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: W3
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 S3?
State Protection: Currently placed on the NHP Watch List. Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: According to Ferguson (1978), D. atrivenosa had been considered extremely rare, with only four specimens known to be collected prior to 1964. While more specimens have subsequently been collected -- including a fair number in North Carolina -- it's distribution, abundance, and habitat associations are still poorly known. Until more information is acquired, the conservation status of this species cannot be accurately determined.

 Photo Gallery for Dasychira atrivenosa - No common name

Photos: 9

Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-04
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dan Devine on 2022-08-06
Harnett Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-06-12
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-06-05
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-06-05
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2016-06-02
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2013-08-18
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2012-06-01
Warren Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2012-06-01
Warren Co.
Comment: