Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members: Zale Members: 614 NC Records

Zale lunata (Drury, 1773) - Lunate Zale

Zale lunata
view caption 		Zale lunataZale lunataZale lunata
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Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Erebidae		Subfamily:
Erebinae		Tribe:
Ophiusini		P3 Number:
931023		 MONA Number:
8689.00
Comments: One of 39 species in this genus that occur north of Mexico, 23 of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954), Wagner (2005); Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                  
Adult Markings: Our largest Zale and one of the most variable in coloration and patterning. Several forms are similar to those of Zale minerea in particular, and also with Z. galbanata and phaeocapna to some extent. Best distinguished from those species by the greater waviness of the postmedian from the bottom of the cell to the costal margin: in lunata, a series of small waves or zig-zags are present in this area, including at the end of the cell (opposite the reniform), whereas in the other three, only a couple of broader undulations occur, including a deep concavity at the end of the cell (see Forbes, 1954).
Wingspan: 50 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are also highly variable and overlapping in color and patterning with other species, particularly Z. minerea (see Wagner et al., 2011, for description of some possibly diagnostic features).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found statewide, from the Barrier Islands to the High Mountains; one of our most ubiquitous moths
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Zale lunataAlamance 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.
Immature 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: immatures.
Flight Comments: Flies throughout the growing season over most of the state and is omnipresent in the Coastal Plain
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Occurs in virtually all wooded habitats in the state, including maritime forests, peatlands, Longleaf Pine savannas and sandhills, river bottomlands, mesic-to-dry ridges, and high elevation forests. Wooded residential areas are also used in addition to natural forests and woodlands.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of woody species as well as some species of forbs. Wagner et al. (2011) specifically list chokeberry (Aronia), birch (Betula), hawthorn (Crataegus), apple (Malus), cherry (Prunus), blackberry (Rubus), willow (Salix), and Wisteria. In North Carolina, Jeff Niznik reared a larva from Black Willow (Salix nigra). - View
Observation Methods: Comes moderately well to UV lights but numbers are typically much greater on bait, including at fruit baits and wine ropes.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Given its wide range of larval host plants, broad habitat associations, and extensive occurrence across the state, this species appears to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Zale lunata - Lunate Zale

 245 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Zale lunata
Recorded by: Tony McBride, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-10-29
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: Tony McBride, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-10-28
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: Tony McBride, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-10-27
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-10-04
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: Sarah Toner and Larry Chen on 2025-09-25
Tyrrell Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-14
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-09-03
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-08-27
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-24
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-22
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-13
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-07-29
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-27
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-27
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-07-21
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: David George, David Cheng, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: Guy McGrane on 2025-06-27
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: Melody McMichael on 2025-06-26
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-05
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-02
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-19
Madison Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-02
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-01
Madison Co.
Comment: Adult male (dissected).
Zale lunata
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-01
Madison Co.
Comment: Male genitalia.		Zale lunata
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-03-11
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Zale lunata
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-12-04
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Zale lunata
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-11-10
Carteret Co.
Comment: