Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Hyperstrotia Members:	34 NC Records

Hyperstrotia aetheria (Grote, 1879) - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Phytometrinae

P3 Number:
930728

MONA Number:
9036.00

Comments: One of five species in this genus found in North America north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010, 2015), all of which have been recorded in North Carolina

Species Status: Specimens that we had previously identified as Hyperstrotia nana have now been transferred to Hyperstrotia aetheria, following a re-assignment described by Lafontaine and Schmidt (2015). However, this species may actually represent a complex, with at least one undescribed species in addition to true H. aetheria. At least one North Carolina specimen may belong to that undescribed species, based on data from genetic bar-coding.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Grote (1897), Forbes (1954)

Adult Markings: A small, white, black, and brown marked Graylet. The ground color is white to pale gray. The antemedian and postmedian lines are both pure white, narrow, and edged medially by black. A solid black spot is located on the costa just before the antemedian line and one or two small dark discal spots are present, along with a row of small black terminal spots. The median area is variably shaded with gray or brown, joining a darker patch that extends from the costa just before the apex to the postmedian line. Hindwings are fuscous (see Grote, 1897 and Forbes, 1954 for more details). Other members of this genus are similar in size and coloration but usually do not have solid, contrastingly black patches along the costa, although more diffuse gray patches may occur in the same location.

Wingspan: 16 mm (Grote, 1897)

Adult Structural Features: Forewings lack an accessory cell, similar to pervertens and nana but different from flaviguttata and secta, which possess one

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: Apparently unrecorded

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Most of our records come from the Fall-line Sandhills, with a few from the Outer Coastal Plain

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: We have records from May to August

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come primarily from Pine-Scrub Oak Sandhills, with a few from other types of dry oak woodlands. Most come from sites with loamy soils, supporting stands of Bluejack, Scrubby Post Oak, and Blackjack Oaks. Records from Cabarrus County may be associated with Blackjack Oaks, but the moth has not been found in other areas in the Piedmont where that species occurs.

Larval Host Plants: Host plants are apparently undocumented but one of the more xerophytic oaks seems likely, including Blackjack, Bluejack, or Scrubby Post Oak. - View

Observation Methods: All of our records come from blacklight traps or sheets.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Dry-Xeric Hardwood Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status: W-PK

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3?

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

Comments: This species appears to have a restricted geographic range in North Carolina and occupies a narrow range of habitats. Further information is needed on its host plants and its distribution within the Outer Coastal Plain before its conservation status can be accurately estimated.

Photo Gallery for Hyperstrotia aetheria - None

Photos: 17

	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, David Cheng, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, David Cheng, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2023-07-30 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-04-09 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2019-06-29 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2013-05-18 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: SPH on 2009-06-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: SPH on 2009-06-19 Hoke Co. Comment:		Recorded by: SPH on 2009-06-12 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: SPH on 2009-06-12 Bladen Co. Comment: