Moths of North Carolina
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Acronicta Members:
48 NC Records

Acronicta fallax (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854) - Green Marvel

Acronicta fallaxAcronicta fallax
view caption 		Acronicta fallaxAcronicta fallax
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: AcronictinaeP3 Number: 931432.1 MONA Number: 9281.00 MONA Synonym: Agriopodes fallax
Comments: One of 74 species in this genus found in North America north of Mexico (Schmidt and Anweiler, 2020), 42 of which have been recorded in North Carolina.
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded and nest nicely with those from elsewhere; there is no evidence of sibling species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Agriopodes fallax); Beadle and Leckie (2012; as Agriopodes fallax)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species, which looks as though it belongs on a patch of lichens, is unmistakable in its pattern. While there are other species similar to it, and one placed with it in the genus Agriopodes, some have been moved elsewhere as well.
Adult Structural Features: The male and female genitalia are quite distinct and resemble other species in Acronicta, particularly A. grisea, a species that does not reach North Carolina. These are discussed in detail in Schmidt et al (2014).
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Mature larvae are green with a peculiar humped or teardrop shape. There are thin, white subdorsal lines, dark spots above the eyes and small reddish bumps on the prothorax. Curiously, it lacks the long setae so characteristic of most Acronicta larvae.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs across the entire state except for the Barrier Islands and High Mountains.
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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