Moths of North Carolina

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Zale lunata (Drury, 1773) - Lunate Zale

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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, BOLD

Technical 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.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Immature 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: 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

240 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

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