Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Eosphoropteryx Members:
50 NC Records

Eosphoropteryx thyatyroides (Guenée, 1852) - Pink-patched Looper

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: PlusiinaeTribe: PlusiiniP3 Number: 931187.00 MONA Number: 8905.00
Comments: The sole member of its genus, which is found in northern and eastern North America (Lafontaine and Poole, 1991).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-sized Looper with a striking pattern of pink, brown, and gray on its forwings and a high reddish crest on its thorax. The stigma is an open, silver v, followed by a solid spot; hindwings are fuscous with a white-barred fringe (Forbes, 1954). This species is unlikely to be confused with any other of our species.
Wingspan: 35 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult Structural Features: Male and female reproductive structures are described and illustrated by Lafontaine and Poole (1991)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from fairly rich, mesic habitats, including cove forests and ridges on amphibolite substrates. A few also come from high elevation sites, such as Mt. Mitchell, Roan Mountain, and Mt. Collins.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on Meadow Rues (Thalictrum spp.) and Wild Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) in the Ranunculaceae, with at least one report from Lousewort (Pedicularis) in the Scrophulariaceae (Lafontaine and Poole, 1991).
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Montane Mesic Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 S3S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Eosphoropteryx thyatyroides - Pink-patched Looper

Photos: 24

Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-10-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-09-07
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-09-07
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-09-03
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-10-14
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-20
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-26
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-08
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-08
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2019-09-06
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-11
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-30
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-30
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf, B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger on 2012-07-25
Ashe Co.
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Recorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-07-25
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 0000-00-00
Graham Co.
Comment: