Moths of North Carolina
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Hyperstrotia Members:
25 NC Records

Hyperstrotia aetheria (Grote, 1879) - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: PhytometrinaeP3 Number: 930728.00 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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical 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
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. In almost all cases, however, a beaver pond, Carolina Bay, or some other wetlands were located in the near vicinity.
Larval Host Plants: Unrecorded but some species of xerophytic oak seems likely, with Bluejack Oak found at most, if not all of the sites where this moth has been recorded - 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: W3
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 - No common name

Photos: 8

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: