Moths of North Carolina
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936 NC Records

Idia aemula Hübner, 1814 - Common Idia Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: HerminiinaeP3 Number: 930471.00 MONA Number: 8323.00
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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954); Rings et al. (1992)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A moderately small deltoid, similar in size to Idia americalis but more evenly shaded with smoky to yellowish-gray and not paler towards the base or along the costa. Lines are darker but not as heavy as in americalis. Both the orbicular and reniform are usually contrastingly pale yellow, although in some individuals the spots can be blackish and much darker than the ground color. The terminal line is broken into a series of spots, unlike the continuous line found in americalis (Forbes, 1954). Aemula is similar in pattern and forewing color to Idia "concisa" but has a more fuscous hindwing that is nearly concolorous with the forewing (Forbes, 1954). The median band of the forewing is also usually more diffuse in aemula than in "concisa" (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010).
Wingspan: 20-30 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult Structural Features: Like americalis and "concisa", aemula has relatively short palps, not reaching the vertex (Forbes' subgenus Epizeuxis). The third segment is blunt and blade-like with rough hair on the upper surface (Forbes, 1954).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
Immature 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: This one of our most ubiquitous species, occurring virtually all habitats found across the state.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae are probably generalized detritivores, feeding on dead leaves, fungi, and other organic matter (Forbes, 1954; Wagner et al., 2011). Individuals have been found in the nests of squirrels, mice, and hornets, and in earthball fungi (Wagner et al., 2011). They appear to commonly skeletonize dead leaves, but the caterpillars have rarely been found in the wild. John Petranka successfully reared an adult from Orange County. The larva was one of several that were found in what appeared to be a squirrel nest that had fallen from a tree. The leaves inside were heavily skeletonized and the larva fed to some extent on dead oak leaves before pupating. - View
Observation Methods: Comes well to both black lights and bait. Even though the adults are common in many areas of the state, the L=larvae have only rarely been observed in the wild (Wagner, et al., 2011).
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Fields
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [G5] 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 aemula - Common Idia Moth

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-14
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-12
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-11
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-04
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-29
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-25
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-06-20
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-18
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-17
Lincoln Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Patrick Coin, Mark Basinger on 2024-06-16
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-13
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-07
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-06-07
Jackson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-05
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-28
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-28
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-13
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-12
Rowan Co.
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Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-05-11
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-05
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-02
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29
Chatham Co.
Comment: