Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Eosphoropteryx Members:
54 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). - View
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.
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 Photo Gallery for Eosphoropteryx thyatyroides - Pink-patched Looper

Photos: 28

Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-10-24
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-08-04
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-08-03
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-07-25
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-10-15
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-09-07
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-09-07
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-09-03
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-10-14
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-28
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-21
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-16
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-28
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-20
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-15
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-26
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-08
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-08
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2019-09-06
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-11
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-11
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-30
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-30
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
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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.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 0000-00-00
Graham Co.
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