Moths of North Carolina
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986 NC Records

Idia americalis (Guenée, 1854) - American Idia

Idia americalisIdia americalisIdia americalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Erebidae		Subfamily:
Herminiinae		P3 Number:
930469		 MONA Number:
8322.00
Comments: One of eighteen species recorded in North America (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010), twelve of which are found in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A moderately small deltoid with a blue-gray ground color, particularly in the basal area and along the costa; the area beyond the reniform may be shaded with yellow or with darker fuscous in some individuals. The lines are dark black and strongly waved or dentate and expanded towards the costa. The orbicular is yellowish and reniform consists of a yellow crescent followed by a reddish-orange patch (Forbes, 1954). A continuous black terminal line exists, followed by a checkered fringe.
Wingspan: 20-30 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult Structural Features: Like aemula and "concisa" (Forbes' subgenus Epizeuxis), americalis has relatively short palps, not reaching the vertex. The third segment is blunt and blade-like with rough hair on the upper surface (Forbes, 1954).
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Occurs statewide
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Idia americalis
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The majority of our records come from forested habitats, including maritime forests, swamp forests, mesic slopes, and dry ridges. Some also come from open habitats, but usually from areas with forests located nearby.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on dead leaves, detritus, and lichens (Wagner et al., 2011). - View
Observation Methods: Comes readily to bait and to blacklights
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests
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:

 Photo Gallery for Idia americalis - American Idia

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

Recorded by: David George, Bonnie Eamick on 2025-04-25
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-14
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-04-03
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-06
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-11-05
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-22
Wayne Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-13
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-10-12
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-08
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-06
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-02
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-25
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-22
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-22
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-22
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-06
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-06
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-01
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-30
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-22
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-20
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-20
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-18
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-17
Brunswick Co.
Comment: