Moths of North Carolina
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270 NC Records

Renia discoloralis Guenée, 1854 - Discolored Renia Moth

Renia discoloralisRenia discoloralisRenia discoloralisRenia discoloralis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: HerminiinaeP3 Number: 930532 MONA Number: 8381.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical 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) - View
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

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

Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-24
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-02
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-14
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-07
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-25
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin on 2024-06-22
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-09
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-09
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Hunter Phillips on 2024-06-07
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-06-06
Jackson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-05-24
Jackson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-05-24
Jackson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-30
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-09-26
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2023-09-13
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-10
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-08-24
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-08-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-08-10
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-10
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-10
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka, David George on 2023-08-05
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-31
Madison Co.
Comment: