Moths of North Carolina
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61 NC Records

Cutina arcuata Pogue & Ferguson, 1998 - Arcuate Cutina

Cutina arcuata
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ErebinaeTribe: PoaphiliniP3 Number: 930966 MONA Number: 8729.20
Comments: One of four species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010). All are restricted to the southeastern United States and have been recorded in North Carolina (Pogue and Ferguson, 1998).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Pogue and Ferguson (1998)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-small, mottled brown, black and white Erebid. The ground color of the forewing is brown but heavily marked with black streaks or bands in the antemedian, median, and subterminal spaces. The basal, antemedian, and postmedian lines are also black and edged with white; the subterminal line is largely white. Neither the orbicular or reniform spots are present. Hindwings are light brown. This species is darker brown and much more strongly mottled than the other species of Cutina.
Forewing Length: 9.4-10.6 mm, males; 9.6-10.6 mm, females (Pogue and Ferguson, 1998)
Adult Structural Features: The outer margin of the forewing is angulate, as in other members of this genus. The reproductive structures of both sexes are distinctive and are described and illustrated by Pogue and Ferguson (1998). The uncus is narrow and of equal width over its length, distinguishing this species from albopunctella. Differences in the valves and their processes serve to separate distincta from arcuata and aluticolor. In females, the lobes of the eighth sternite and sclerotization of the sinus vaginalis can be used for identification (Pogue and Ferguson, 1998).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are green with pale stripes, helping them blend in with the foliage on which they feed. Prolegs on A4 are rudimentary and there is a slight hump on the dorsum of A8. See Wagner et al., 2011 for description and an illustration. Larvae of the four species of Cutina are very similar to one another and should be reared to maturity in order to accurately identify the species (Wagner et al., 2011). In one such rearing attempt by George Smiley (BugGuide, 2014), pupation was found to take place in a shelter the larva created by sewing leaves together. Pupating above ground is most likely an adaptation to living in swamps.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs throughout the range of Taxodium in North Carolina, including the Outer Coastal Plain, Fall-line Sandhills, and a few sites in the eastern Piedmont where cypress swamps occur.
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: Flies through most the growing season, from March to September. Our data indicate there may be several peaks in activity
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: All of our records for this species come from riverine swamps or lakeshores; none come from pond cypress savannas
Larval Host Plants: Possibly monophagous on Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum). While Pond Cypress may also be used, we have no records from sites where that is the most likely choice. - View
Observation Methods: Appears to come well to blacklights; we have no records from bait.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Cypress Swamps and Savannas
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] [S3S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is a strong host plant and habitat specialist, but on species and habitats that are still widespread in at least the outer third of the state. Several threats exist, however, including sea-level rise and salt-water intrusion along the Coast; draining and conversion of Carolina Bays and other cypress-savannas to agriculture and silviculture; and loss of deep swamp habitats due to timber harvest and creation of impoundments. Despite these threats, and past losses of habitat due to massive timber cutting in bottomland forests, this species currently appears to be relatively secure within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Cutina arcuata - Arcuate Cutina

Photos: 2

Recorded by: Ed Corey on 2015-06-10
Washington Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: FKW, SBW on 2006-05-30
Gates Co.
Comment: