Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Hemeroplanis Members:	101 NC Records

Hemeroplanis scopulepes (Haworth, 1809) - Variable Tropic Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Phytometrinae

P3 Number:
930700

MONA Number:
8467.00

Other Common Name:
The Brush Foot

Species Status: Franclemont (1966) separated members of this genus into two species groups: the Scopulepes Group, all members of which have a dark, punctiform orbicular spot, and the Habitalis Group, all of which lack that spot (clear genetalic differences also exist).

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)

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

Adult Markings: The ground color varies from yellowish to tan to reddish brown. The antemedian is fairly even but has an inward point at the radial vein. The postmedian is bicolored, dark basally followed by pale. It is sharply bent below the costa but then runs fairly smoothly to the inner margin. A median line is typically present, running from a dark spot on the costa to the reniform and then across to the inner margin. A subterminal line, consisting of a series of dark smudges or bicolored dark and white spots, runs an irregular course across the wing. The orbicular spot is dark and located just distad from the inward point on the antemedian. The reniform is fairly large and dark brown. The hindwings are similar in color and pattern to the forewings. Hemeroplanis habitalis is smaller and typically reddish-brown. The orbicular is obsolete (contrary to Forbes' key).

Wingspan: 23-28 mm (Forbes, 1954)

Adult Structural Features: The forewings are relatively long and falcate; the hindwings have a rounded outer margin, extending beyond the forewings when at rest. Our other members of this genus have a more compact deltoid appearance.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Most of our records come from the Coastal Plain but with sparse observations as far west as the low mountains.

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: Possibly two to three broods, from early spring to early fall

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come mainly from open, dry-xeric woodlands and barrens. Sandy habitats are used in the Coastal Plain but this species also occurs in barrens, glades, and dry ridges in the Piedmont.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae have been reared in captivity on clover (Wagner et al., 2011), making legumes a possibility. The hosts used in the wild are apparently unrecorded, but this species appears to be fairly common in open, herbaceous habitats, including "bean dips" in the Sandhills. - View

Observation Methods: Often flushed during the day

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Dry-Xeric Glades and Barrens

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 Hemeroplanis scopulepes - Variable Tropic Moth

Photos: 24

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-03 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Steve Hall, David George on 2025-04-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-17 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-08-21 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson, Brian Bockhahn on 2022-06-07 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-10 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-03-25 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, S. Halling, N. Williamson on 2018-06-06 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2016-04-23 Warren Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-08-12 Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: ASH on 2013-06-12 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2013-05-18 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2013-05-18 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-04-14 Warren Co. Comment: Confirmed via specimen by Bo Sullivan