Moths of North Carolina
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Zale Members:
19 NC Records

Zale submediana Strand, 1917 - No Common Name


Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ErebinaeTribe: OphiusiniP3 Number: 931037.00 MONA Number: 8702.00
Comments: One of 39 species in this genus that occur north of Mexico, 23 of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Species Status: Submediana 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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: McDunnough (1943); Forbes (1954); Rings et al. (1992)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Submediana is one of the larger species in the pine-feeding group, similar in size to obliqua and with at least some forms possessing a similar blue-gray ground color (Forbes, 1954; Rings et al., 1992). Differs from obliqua by possesing a medial line composed of three lines, the inner one crossing the forewing well in front (basad) of the reniform instead of along its inner edge (bethunei has a similar triple black medial line but is smaller and darker). Submediana is generally more mottled than obliqua, and the hindwing lacks the blue-gray that is typical of obliqua (Forbes, 1954; McDunnough, 1943 and Rings et al., 1992). While fresh individuals should be identifiable on the basis of a good photograph, worn males may be more conclusively identified by dissection (see McDunnough and Forbes).
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae of submediana are similar to those of the other pine-feeding Zales, with rearing to the adult stage generally required for identification (Wagner, et al., 2011).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Ranges well north and south of North Carolina, so in theory should be fairly well distributed across the state.
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)

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