Moths of North Carolina
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37 NC Records

Gabara subnivosella Walker, 1866 - Snowy Gabara

Gabara subnivosella
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ScoleocampinaeP3 Number: 930643 MONA Number: 8522.00
Comments: One of seven species in this genus that occurs in North American north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010). Three of these species have been recorded in North Carolina (one historic record for G. obscura needs to be confirmed). One undescribed species also appears to exist.
Species Status: According to Richards (1942) and Forbes (1954), subspecies bipuncta occurs in our area with the nominate form restricted to the Midwest. Bar-code analysis of North Carolina specimens shows a strong mixing of Gabara subnivosella and G. distema, with subgroups of both occurring within the larger cluster that combines these two species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Highly variable, with the ground color ranging from light and nearly immaculate to dark lead gray (Richards, 1942; Forbes, 1954 regarded the dark form as aberrant). Forbes describes the black orbicular and reniform as almost always distinct, with a fuscous streak frequently present from the base to the middle of the outer margin, or with a even, fuscous postmedian line that is sharply curved on the upper part of the wing and then obliquely angled to the inner margin. Richards describes all of these markings as either present or absent. Individuals of G. distema humeralis can be similar to bipuncta but usually have a slight yellowish tint (Forbes, 1954).
Wingspan: Expanse, 24 to 32 mm., usually 25 to 28 mm (Richards, 1942)
Adult Structural Features: The distal of two costal prongs is shorter than the basal prong. The vesica of the aedeagus has one large spine (usually also one small spine). G. subnivosella has similar prongs but the vesica has two large spines (see figure in Richards, 1942).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Forbes describes this species as common on dry, acidic hill barrens in the Northeast but elsewhere more common in marshy areas.
Larval Host Plants: Members of this genus feed on grasses (Robinson et al., 2012). Forbes (1954) presumed that sedges or coarse grasses were the larval foods but that they possibly feed on dead material. - View
Observation Methods: Forbes (1954) noted that this species was easily flushed during the day.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
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 Photo Gallery for Gabara subnivosella - Snowy Gabara

Photos: 1

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-10
Richmond Co.
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