Moths of North Carolina
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Pseudanthracia Members:
39 NC Records

Pseudanthracia coracias (Guenée, 1852) - Pseudanthracia Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ErebinaeTribe: OphiusiniP3 Number: 931015.00 MONA Number: 8683.00
Comments: The sole member of its genus; closely related to Zale and sometimes included within it (e.g., Forbes, 1954); differs mainly in the male genitalia, which are much simpler and more symmetric than in Zale (Forbes, 1954)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: (not in either of the field guides)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Coal black or dark ash, sometimes with umber markings; reniform is usually pale. Similar to Z. aeruginosa, which is sympatric, but lacks the green scaling of that species (sometimes has bands of pale frosting). Also similar to Z. undularis, whose range is located farther to the west, but lacks the pale lunule located in the bight of the postmedian opposite the cell (Forbes, 1954). Differs from other black forms of Zale in the subterminal line running less obliquely across the forewing, forming two strong waves; also differs strongly in the male reproductive structures (Forbes, 1954).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are similar to those of Z. lunata but possess a whitish subdorsal band interrupted on segment A1 (Forbes, 1954).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: All of our records come from the Coastal Plain
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
Flight Comments: Adults fly throughout the growing season with maybe two or more distinct peaks
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of our records come from dry woodlands, including Maritime Evergreen Forests, Coastal Fringe Sandhills, and Pine-Scrub Oak Sandhills. The one exception is a record from the Devils Gut TNC Preserve located in the Roanoke River floodplain.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on oaks (Forbes, 1954; Robinson et al., 2010). Robinson et al., also mention Black Locust, which is not native to the areas where this species occurs in North Carolina; species of dwarf locusts might be possible, however. - View
Observation Methods: Comes moderately well to lights and to bait
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Xeric-Mesic, Sandy Woodlands and Scrub
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 S2S3
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: Appears to be a habitat specialist and may be vulnerable to reduction and fragmentation of sandhills and other dry oak habitats in the Coastal Plain.

 Photo Gallery for Pseudanthracia coracias - Pseudanthracia Moth

Photos: 5

Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-04-11
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-04-11
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, N. Williamson on 2014-06-04
Moore Co.
Comment: Resting on scorched bark
Recorded by: SPH & DFS on 1992-05-04
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Collected at bait in a Longleaf Pine Savanna. Wingspan = 3.1 cm. Determined by Dale Schweitzer