Moths of North Carolina
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Lascoria Members:
353 NC Records

Lascoria ambigualis Walker, 1866 - Ambiguous Moth

Lascoria ambigualisLascoria ambigualisLascoria ambigualisLascoria ambigualis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Erebidae		Subfamily:
Herminiinae		P3 Number:
930547		 MONA Number:
8393.00		 Other Common Name:
Ambiguous Litter Moth
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: Males are easy to identify based on the notch they possess on the outer margin of the forewing. Females, however, can be difficult to distinguish from both males and females of Phalaenophana pyramusalis. Differences in the color of the spots is one usually reliable way to separate the two: in Lascoria, the orbicular and reniform are white or cream-colored; in Phalaenophana, they are black.
Wingspan: 23 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Lascoria ambigualis
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: Wagner et al. (2011) describe its habitats as including shrubby fields, woodlands, and forests. Our records span the entire range of habitats in North Carolina, from maritime dunes, bottomlands, swamps, savannas, sandridges, peatlands, mesic hardwoods, xeric woodlands, and high elevation summits.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are highly polyphagous, feeding on both dead and living plants, including graminoids, forbs, and hardwood shrubs. Wagner et al. (2011) specifically list holly (Ilex), morning-glory (Ipomoea), blackberry (Rubus), and Verbesina. We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Mixed Habitats
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [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 Lascoria ambigualis - Ambiguous Moth

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

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-29
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-29
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-14
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-14
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-03-13
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-11-05
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-10-27
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-29
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-27
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-07
Alamance Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-09
Mitchell Co.
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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.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-07
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-05-18
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-15
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-05-02
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-24
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-01
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-01
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-30
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-30
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-03-20
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-03-16
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-03-14
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-03-03
Orange Co.
Comment: