Moths of North Carolina
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Gabara Members:
175 NC Records

Gabara distema (Grote, 1880) - An Erebid Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ScoleocampinaeP3 Number: 930644.00 MONA Number: 8523.00
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 humeralis occurs across the Southeast with the nominate form restricted to Texas. 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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: According to Richards (1942), this is the common and variable form of the southeastern states. The ground color tends to be yellowish but varies from nearly white to dark grey. The postmedian is weak or absent and the dark longitudinal streak and discal dots can be present or absent. Unstreaked forms with a pale ground color probably need to be dissected in order to distinguish this species from both pulverosalis and subnivosella.
Wingspan: Expanse : 20 to 28 mm., usually 22 to 24 (Richards, 1942)
Adult Structural Features: In males, the distal of two costal prongs is shorter than basal prong or absent (Richards, 1942). The vesica of the aedeagus has two strong 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:
Larval Host Plants: Members of this genus feed on grasses (Robinson et al., 2012) - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 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 Gabara distema - An Erebid Moth

Photos: 8

Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-08-24
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-08-16
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-25
Clay Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-25
Clay Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2022-08-15
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall, Bo Sullivan, Jim Petranka on 2022-07-25
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2015-08-11
Cherokee Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2015-08-04
Durham Co.
Comment: