Moths of North Carolina
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Metallata Members:
62 NC Records

Metallata absumens (Walker, 1862) - Variable Metallata Moth

Metallata absumensMetallata absumensMetallata absumensMetallata absumens
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: EulepidotinaeTribe: PanopodiniP3 Number: 931075 MONA Number: 8573.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Similar in pattern and color to Anticarsia gemmatalis but is smaller and the postmedian is angled further in on the wing, with the point below vein M1 (Forbes, 1954). In our specimens, this point is less acute than in gemmatilis, forming a great than 45 degree angle, versus less than 45 in gemmatalis. The orbicular is usually minute but the reniform is large and is either black, white, or concolorous with the ground color. A dark line connects the reniform to the costa (Leckie and Beadle, 2018), whereas the median line, if present in gemmatalis runs in front of the reniform. Where visible, the hindwing has a small dark discal spot located above the postmedian that is missing in gemmatalis (Leckie and Beadle, 2018). The spots on the underside of the wing are dark rather than light, as they are in gemmatalis (Forbes, 1954).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
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: In North Carolina, this species is most abundant on barrier islands and the Outer Coastal Plain. Records from the Piedmont may represent populations associated with planted waxmyrtles. Records from the Mountains, including Mt. Mitchell, more likely represent migrants.
Larval Host Plants: One larva collected on Bayberry was reared to adulthood, confirming it as absumens (J.B. Sullivan, pers. obs.). That observation, together with the fact that most of our records come from barrier islands and other sites where Waxmyrtles are common, suggest that members of the Myrtaceae are the likely host plants. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Myricaceous Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] 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 Metallata absumens - Variable Metallata Moth

Photos: 24

Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-07-30
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-07-16
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-17
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-05-12
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-10-29
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-06-17
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-06-07
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-11-21
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-11-06
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-10-16
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-10-02
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-07-11
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-07-06
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-21
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2019-05-09
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-05-02
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2014-05-14
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2013-05-26
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2012-06-28
Martin Co.
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Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2006-06-15
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Newman,Randy on 2006-05-05
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2005-07-21
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2005-05-28
Carteret Co.
Comment: