Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha): Choose a Family

Home

View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Zale Members:	52 NC Records

Zale helata (Smith, 1908) - Brown-spotted Zale

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Erebinae

Tribe:
Ophiusini

P3 Number:
931039

MONA Number:
8704.00

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: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: McDunnough (1943); Forbes (1954); Rings et al. (1992)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954), Wagner (2005), Wagner et al. (2011)

Adult Markings: This species is one of the easier ones to identify in the pine-feeding group. It ranges from bright brown to grayish brown with a prominent dark color preceding the antemedian line and filling in its convexities; a similar dark shading also occupies the space between the postmedian and subterminal lines (McDunnough, 1943; Forbes, 1954). The median lines, in contrast, are quite weak, although the innermost line runs across the wing before the reniform spot, not along its inner edge. Unlike most members of this group (except buchholzi), there is little contrast between the inner and outer zones defined by the medial line. Fresh individuals should be identifiable on the basis of a good photograph; more worn individuals can be determined through dissection.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Larvae of helata are quite variable, including both green and brown forms but can be distinguished using characters given in Wagner (2005) and Wagner et al. (2011).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Probably occurs over the entire 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) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Probably single brooded with adults flying only in the spring

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: North Carolina records appear to come from the entire spectrum of pine-containing habitats, including maritime forests, peatlands, wet Longleaf savannas and xeric sandhills, dry Piedmont and Mountain ridges.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are oligophagous, feeding on a range of pines, including both soft and hard pines; also feeding occasionally on larch (Larix spp.) (Forbes, 1954; Wagner et al., 2011). Reported hosts include Red Pine (Pinus resinosa), Pitch Pine (P. rigida), Eastern White Pine (P. strobus), and Virginia Pine (P. virginiana) (Covell, 1984; Maier et al., 2004). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: Zale helata may be poorly attracted to lights, which, along with its relatively early flight period, could be a factor explaining the scarcity of records in North Carolina. Bait is probably a more effective way to sample for it, as is true for several other species of Zale.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Pine Forests and Woodlands

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S4]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands

Comments: Although a uncommonly collected species in North Carolina, too little is known about the distribution and habitat affinities of helata to estimate its conservation needs.

Photo Gallery for Zale helata - Brown-spotted Zale

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

	Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Columbus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-30 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-26 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-20 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall, David George, and David Bradley on 2024-05-07 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-29 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-27 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-13 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-21 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-03-01 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-21 Caswell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-30 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-04-25 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-23 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-06-17 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-26 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-09 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-09 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-09 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-04-23 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-17 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, L. Amos on 2015-05-12 Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2015-04-10 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2015-04-10 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2015-04-09 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2014-05-08 Durham Co. Comment: