Moths of North Carolina
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Macrochilo Members:
26 NC Records

Macrochilo louisiana (Forbes, 1922) - Louisiana Macrochilo Moth

Macrochilo louisiana
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: HerminiinaeP3 Number: 930505 MONA Number: 8361.00
Comments: One of seven species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010), six of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954, as Hormisa louisiana); Ferguson (1982)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-small, pale tan Deltoid. At rest, the forewings and body form an isosceles triangle, with only the slightly curved outer margins breaking the linear outline. The head, body, and ground color of the forewings are pale tan. The females are nearly unmarked and the males are marked mainly with a two dark discal dots, and similar points representing the transverse lines; the postmedian can also be mor complete but very thin, often preceded by a darker shade. The hindwings are paler than the forewings (Ferguson, 1982). Several other species in this genus are similar in size and coloration but usually have more complete transverse lines or longitudinal streaks.
Wingspan: 25-27 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Forewing Length: 10-11 mm, males; 9-11 mm, females (Ferguson, 1982)
Adult Structural Features: Like other members of this genus, male antennae are unipectinate from the base to a knot-like structure near the middle and bipectinate beyond to the tip. The foretibiae of the males also possess conspicuous scale-tufts. Male and female reproductive structures are distinctive, as described and illustrated by Ferguson (1982).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Apparently undescribed
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Most of our records come from the Coastal Plain, but its presence in all three provinces of the state indicates that it could occur statewid
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: Our data indicate that there may be two distinct flights
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: All of our records come from shoreline habitats, most from the margins of shallow ponds. In the Outer Coastal Plain these interdune ponds on the barrier islands; Carolina Bay lakes and depression ponds further inland; and beaver ponds and borrow pits in the Sandhills and Piedmont. Our one record from the mountains comes from a river shoreline.
Larval Host Plants: Unknown, but at least some other members of this genus feed on the withered leaves of sedges - View
Observation Methods: Appears to come well to blacklights and other lights; we have no records from bait
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Shoreline Forblands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: W3
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 [S3S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Forbes (1954) stated that this species was rare everywhere except the coastal strip of Florida. Ferguson (1982) similarly regarded it as rare in the North. Its use of shallow impoundments may indicate that it was once primarily associated with beaver ponds and may have become drastically reduced when beavers were all but extirpated over most of North America. Conversely, the restoration of beavers and their wetland habitats may be leading to a re-expansion of this species, particularly in the Piedmont and Low Mountains.

 Photo Gallery for Macrochilo louisiana - Louisiana Macrochilo Moth

Photos: 6

Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-29
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Ed Corey on 2016-09-30
Bladen Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Ed Corey on 2016-09-30
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2013-10-01
Dare Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2010-07-01
Camden Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2009-09-10
Camden Co.
Comment: