Moths of North Carolina
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215 NC Records

Renia discoloralis Guenée, 1854 - Discolored Renia Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: HerminiinaeP3 Number: 930532.00 MONA Number: 8381.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is the largest of our species of Renia. The pattern is extremely variable, with the coloration ranging from fairly uniform to strongly contrasting. In the contrasting form, the median and subterminal areas are dark brown with the basal, postmedian, and marginal areas pale yellowish (Forbes, 1954). The antemedian and postmedian lines are dark, excurved and strongly scalloped. The subterminal is pale and irregular, with inward bends opposite the cell and in the fold with outward bulges in between; sometimes represented by a series of dots. The orbcular is a small, pale dot. The reniform is yellowish and contrasting with two darker dots that are sometimes fused. In melanic forms, the forewings are dark brown with the lines and spots obscure. The hindwings are fuscous with a dark postmedian and paler subterminal. The undescribed species near discolorais is very similar and size measurements are useful in separating the two. All other members of this genus are even smaller.
Wingspan: 35 - 45 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult Structural Features: In males, the shaft of the antenna before the tuft is usually 7 mm long, with the portion after the tuft only 3 mm long. The apex of the forewing is somewhat falcate; the outer margin is oblique.
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
Flight Comments: Adults fly mainly in July and August, in between the flights of the udescribed species
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come almost entirely from hardwood forests, and mostly from wet to mesic stands.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on dead leaves and other detritus (Wagner et al.,2011)
Observation Methods: Comes to blacklights and probably also to bait
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S4S5
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 discoloralis - Discolored Renia Moth

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

Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2022-09-17
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-08-20
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-10
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Lior Carlson, Brian Bockhahn on 2022-08-09
Rockingham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2022-07-30
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-19
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson, Stephen Dunn on 2022-07-15
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-17
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-09
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-06-07
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-06-06
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2022-06-04
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-01
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-01
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-05-31
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2022-05-30
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-30
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2022-05-25
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2022-05-16
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-09-12
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2021-09-11
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-08-11
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2021-08-09
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2021-08-06
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-07-31
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lior Carlson on 2021-07-24
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Lior Carlson on 2021-07-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-09
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-05
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-05
Guilford Co.
Comment: