Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Dasychira Members:	79 NC Records

Dasychira leucophaea (J.E. Smith, 1797) - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Lymantriinae

Tribe:
Orgyiini

P3 Number:
930153

MONA Number:
8301.00

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, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Ferguson (1978)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (1978)

Adult Markings: Males are a fairly even, greenish-gray, with brown areas bordering the inside of the antemedian and outside of the postmedian. A short basal dash extending out to the antemedian may be present but not the longer bars found in other species. A distinctive round, black and white spot is found in the tornal area, which is only white in males of other species, if there is any mark at all. Females are markedly paler than the males; the median area is pale gray tinged with light brown and there is usually a contrastingly pale bluish-gray or whitish band in the terminal area, just beyond a heavily marked brown and black patch bordering the postmedian. As in the male, a short basal dash may be present, along with the distinctive black-and-white spot in the tornal area.

Adult Structural Features: Dasychira species have two dorsal tufts on their abdomens, whereas Orgyia have just one. Adults lack mouthparts. Males do not differ significantly from obliquata genitalically (Ferguson, 1978).

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae are distinctively colored a light yellow -- unlike all other species of Dasychira in our area (Ferguson, 1978). They also have a dorsal black hair pencil located at the posterior end, and at least occasionally a pair of lateral, posterior hair pencils; a pair of anterior hair pencils are present as well.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Except for one record from Tryon at the edge of the Blue Ridge (mentioned by Forbes, 1948), records from North Carolina come entirely from the Coastal Plain, including some from the Fall-line Sandhills and the majority from the Outer 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 bivoltine in North Carolina, with a separation between flights in late July.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Virtually all of our records come from Longleaf Pine habitats, particularly sandhills habitats where xerophytic oaks are present. A few, however, also come from savannas or flatwoods where oaks are absent. However, those individuals are likely to represent strays from sandridges located nearby.

Larval Host Plants: Both Forbes (1948) and Ferguson (1978) state the larvae feed on oaks. Abbott (cited by Ferguson) said it feeds on Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) and Kimball (1965) also reported it feeding on that species; none of our records, however, come from barrier islands where extensive stands of maritime forest are present. Ferguson also reared larvae (apparently ex ovo) on several species of deciduous oaks. Virtually all of our records come from the Coastal Plain from Longleaf Pine habitats and none from areas where deciduous oaks are dominant, e.g., bottomland forests in the Coastal Plain and upland habitats in the Piedmont and Mountains. Many of our records, moreover, come from sandhills habitats where evergreen, xerophytic oaks are likely be the hosts. However, we have far fewer records from the Fall-line Sandhills, where sandhills habitats are most widespread, than we do from the Outer Coastal Plain where such habitats are more limited. More work needs to be done to document the species that are actually used. As Ferguson noted, the larvae are quit distinctive and should be looked for more extensively. - 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 Fire-maintained Sandhills

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status: SR

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 S2S3

State Protection: Listed as Significantly Rare by the Natural Heritage Program. That designation, however, does not confer any legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species appears to be a specialist on sandhills habitats containing xerophytic oaks. While its host plants are somewhat resistant to both fire and to fire suppression, upland habitats are prone to conversion to silviculture and other uses. Most of the habitats where this species has been documented are in large areas of protected habitats, particularly lands used by the military.

Photo Gallery for Dasychira leucophaea - None

Photos: 20

	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-07-24 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin. on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin. on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Rich Teper, David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-22 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka and Jim Petranka on 2023-05-19 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-01 Montgomery Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-09 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-09 Scotland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-11 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-11 Scotland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-10 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-08 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2013-05-18 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: SPH on 1998-05-18 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: SPH & DFS on 1991-05-09 Pender Co. Comment: Male with basal dash and black-and-white tornal dot on right forewing; det. D. Schweitzer