Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Renia Members:	71 NC Records

Renia salusalis (Walker, 1859) - Dotted Renia

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Herminiinae

P3 Number:
930529

MONA Number:
8378.00

Other Common Name:
Short-snout Renia

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Adult Markings: The head, palps, thorax, and ground color of the forewings range from pale luteous to buff or leather-colored, with the females often brighter or redder than the males (Smith, 1895; Forbes, 1954). The antemedian and postmedian are single, dark, and dentate; the postmedian may be reduced to a series of dark dots. The subterminal usually consists of a series of white dots preceded and followed by black dots, often producing an ocellated appearance. A series of dark terminal dots is also present and a dark median shade is often present but obscure along the costa. The orbicular and reniform spots are yellow; the orbicular may be missing and the reniform typically narrow with black dots on either end. Hindwings are duller and somewhat paler.

Wingspan: 20-30 mm (Smith, 1895)

Adult Structural Features: The palps of the males are distinctively short and oblique. The middle segment possesses a specialized tuft that is missing in other species and the third segment is short and blunt (Smith, 1895). In females, the palps are quite long, as they are in both sexes of other species of Renia (Smith, 1895; Forbes, 1954). The apex of the wing is pointed and the outer margin is oblique (Smith, 1895).

Structural photos

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: This species is associated with mesic to dry forests (Wagner et al., 2011). Our records come from sites that meet that general description but fall primarily into just a few types: maritime forests; pond-pine woodlands and non-riverine swamp forests; and dry upland woodlands. The one common denominator is the presence of pines, the color of dead needles is a good match for the coloration of this moth.

Larval Host Plants: Feeding preferences are not well documented but larvae are believed to feed on dead leaves and other detritus (Wagner et al., 2011). - View

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S4]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Renia salusalis - Dotted Renia

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-05 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-30 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-13 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-06-20 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-03 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-04-20 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-07-21 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-24 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka and Chuck Smith on 2023-05-11 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-05-10 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-05-02 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2023-03-27 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2023-03-26 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-25 Clay Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-06-14 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-04-16 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-10 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-10 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-05-03 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-26 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-08-31 Dare Co. Comment: Male, showing very short palps a dimorphic character that distinguishes this species
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2014-05-21 Halifax Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-05-16 Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-05-02 Dare Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-04-29 Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-04-26 Dare Co. Comment: Female, showing palps of normal length for this genus. Identification based on association with the males		Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-04-26 Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-04-26 Dare Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-04-26 Dare Co. Comment: