Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members: Zale Members: 34 NC Records

Zale confusa McDunnough, 1940 - Confused Zale

Zale confusaZale confusa
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Erebidae		Subfamily:
Erebinae		Tribe:
Ophiusini		P3 Number:
931036		 MONA Number:
8701.00
Comments: One of 39 species in this genus that occur north of Mexico, 23 of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Species Status: Belongs to a group of pine-feeding Zales, all of which possess a sharp, outward-pointing tooth on the antemedian line where the radial vein crosses.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: (Not in either field guide)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: McDunnough (1943); Forbes (1954); Rings et al. (1992)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Confusa is a light brown member of this group, closely resembling both metatoides and particularly metata. According to McDunnough (1953), confusa is the most poorly maculate of these species, but our specimens are only slightly larger, paler, and less reddish than metata and otherwise so close that we recommend dissection to confirm their identities.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: Larvae of confusa are also similar to those of the other pine-feeding Zales with identification generally requiring them to be reared to the adult stage (Wagner, et al., 2011).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs over most of the state except the Lower Coastal Plain, where Shortleaf Pine is scarce.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Zale confusaAlamance 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.
Flight Comments: Probably has two broods
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Except for a Craven County record, all of our records come from fairly dry upland habitats in the Piedmont and Mountains. Shortleaf Pine is uncommon in the Coastal Plain and the habitat where this species was recorded in Craven County is uncertain (Pinus echinata has not been recorded from Craven County -- UNC Herbarium Atlas, 2014)
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are essentially monophagous, feeding mainly on Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) and perhaps occasionally other hard pines (Wagner et al., 2011). - View
Observation Methods: May come poorly to lights, which could explain the scarcity of records for what should be a fairly common species. Probably comes well to bait, like other members of this genus.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Dry-Xeric Pine Forests and Woodlands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Although seemingly an uncommon species in North Carolina, too little is known about the distribution and habitat affinities of metata to estimate its conservation needs.

 Photo Gallery for Zale confusa - Confused Zale

Photos: 16
Zale confusa
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-08-19
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Zale confusa
Recorded by: David George, Lior Carlson, Brian Bockhahn on 2022-08-09
Rockingham Co.
Comment:
Zale confusa
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-05-18
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Zale confusa
Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-07-11
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Zale confusa
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-04-29
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Zale confusa
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-07-18
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Zale confusa
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-07-14
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Zale confusa
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2014-07-06
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Zale confusa
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2013-05-10
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Zale confusa
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2012-06-07
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Zale confusa
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-05-02
Warren Co.
Comment: DNA Barcoded by JBS. Wingspan = 3.9 cm		Zale confusa
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2010-07-19
Warren Co.
Comment: DNA barcoded by JBS. Wingspan = 4.5 cm
Zale confusa
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2010-07-19
Warren Co.
Comment: Same specimen as the one shown spread; confirmed by barcoding		Zale confusa
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2008-07-19
Orange Co.
Comment: Photographed at porch light. Identified as confusa by its pale coloration and lack of well-defined markings. Both Shortleaf and Scrub Pine occur nearby.
Zale confusa
Recorded by: Steve Hall, Scott Hartley, Chris Helms on 2000-06-24
Moore Co.
Comment: Female; confirmed by checking genital plate. Collected in fire suppressed stand of hardwoods dominated by Southern Red Oak. Wingspan = 4.0.		Zale confusa
Recorded by: JB Sullivan on 1978-07-24
Craven Co.
Comment: Wingspan = 4.2 cm