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

Homophoberia cristata Morrison, 1875 - Waterlily Owlet Moth

Homophoberia cristata
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Condicinae		Tribe:
Condicini		P3 Number:
932024		 MONA Number:
9056.00		 Other Common Name:
Water-lily Moth
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Structural photos
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.
Homophoberia cristataAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
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: [SR]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 SNR [S1S2]
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 Homophoberia cristata - Waterlily Owlet Moth

Photos: 1
Homophoberia cristata
Recorded by: SPH on 1993-06-21
Washington Co.
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