Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members: Hemeroplanis Members: 106 NC Records

Hemeroplanis habitalis (Walker, 1859) - Black-dotted Hemeroplanis

Hemeroplanis habitalisHemeroplanis habitalisHemeroplanis habitalisHemeroplanis habitalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Erebidae		Subfamily:
Phytometrinae		P3 Number:
930704		 MONA Number:
8471.00		 Other Common Name:
Black-dotted Tropic
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: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The ground color of the forewings is typically leather-brown to reddish-brown, lacking the variability found in scopulepes. Both the antemedial and postmedial lines are pale, sometimes edged with darker brown. They run evenly across the wing, with dark spots often overlying them. No median line is present but there is usually a conspicuous subterminal line consisting of a series of black and white spots. The orbicular spot is missing (contrary to Forbes' key) but the reniform is large and black. There is usually a series of terminal dark spots.
Wingspan: 19-23 mm (Smith, 1907)
Adult Structural Features: At rest, this species has a deltoid shape and has narrow projecting palps similar to the members of the Herminiinae. Antennae are simple in both sexes.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Our records all come from the Coastal Plain, including the barrier islands.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Hemeroplanis habitalisAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is common on barrier islands where it occurs in both open dunes and maritime forests. Inland populations are associated with similarly open, sandy, herbaceous habitats.
Larval Host Plants: Host plants are apparently unknown. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Dry-Xeric Sand Barrens and Glades
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR 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 habitalis - Black-dotted Hemeroplanis

Photos: 18
Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: David George on 2025-06-29
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Brian Bockhahn on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-13
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: Steve Hall, Bo Sullivan, Jim Petranka on 2022-07-25
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-10
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: Newman, Randy on 2006-04-12
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: Newman, Randy on 2005-06-23
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: Newman, Randy on 2004-05-07
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Hemeroplanis habitalisRecorded by: Newman, Randy on 2004-05-07
Carteret Co.
Comment: