Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Homophoberia Members:
3 NC Records

Homophoberia cristata Morrison, 1875 - Waterlily Owlet Moth

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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: CondicinaeTribe: CondiciniP3 Number: 932024 MONA Number: 9056.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The following life history account is based on that of Center et al. (2002). The larvae specialize on Broadleaf Pond-lily (Nuphar advena) and are commonly seen feeding on leaves that project above the waterline. When on the lower surface they feed in the open, while on the upper leaf surface they usually feed within a folded-over portion of the leaf. The females lay a clutch of around 900 eggs, with the eggs deposited either singly or in irregular groups on the upper leaf surface. The larvae have five instars that all feed on the leaves. The newly emerged larvae are pale and translucent green with numerous spots, while the late-instars are pale green with dark red markings on the sides toward the dorsal surface. The larvae can reach 32 mm in length. Just prior to pupation, the mature larvae turn deep red. Center et al. (2002) frequently found pupae within amorphous white cocoons that were either under the rolled edges on the upper surfaces of spatterdock leaves, or on the leaves of nearby emergent plants. Others (e.g., Kellicott, 1891; Dyar, 1909) have reported that the fully grown larvae swim to shore and pupate in a pupal chamber in the soil that is thinly line with silk. The adults typically emerge around 9 days after the larvae pupate.
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)

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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from depression ponds, lake shorelines, and beaver ponds.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on Broadleaf Pond-lily (Nuphar advena) and perhaps other Nuphar species (Center et al., 2002; Wagner et al., 2011). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Herbaceous Ponds
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 S2S3
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
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