Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members: Gabara Members: 175 NC Records

Gabara distema (Grote, 1880) - Streaked Gabara

Gabara distemaGabara distemaGabara distemaGabara distema
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Erebidae		Subfamily:
Scoleocampinae		P3 Number:
930644		 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 Resources: 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).
Structural photos
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.
Gabara distemaAlamance 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:
Larval Host Plants: Host plants are poorly documented, but members of the genus are known to feed on grasses. - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 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 Gabara distema - Streaked Gabara

Photos: 8
Gabara distemaRecorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-08-24
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Gabara distemaRecorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-08-16
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Gabara distemaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-25
Clay Co.
Comment: 		Gabara distemaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-25
Clay Co.
Comment:
Gabara distemaRecorded by: Chuck Smith on 2022-08-15
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Gabara distemaRecorded by: Steve Hall, Bo Sullivan, Jim Petranka on 2022-07-25
Moore Co.
Comment:
Gabara distemaRecorded by: Stephen Hall on 2015-08-11
Cherokee Co.
Comment: 		Gabara distemaRecorded by: T. DeSantis on 2015-08-04
Durham Co.
Comment: