Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Eudryas Members:
246 NC Records

Eudryas grata (Fabricius, 1793) - Beautiful Wood-nymph Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: AgaristinaeP3 Number: 931966.00 MONA Number: 9301.00
Comments: An American genus with one species named from California and two from Georgia. The latter two species also occur in North Carolina. As Forbes (1954) points out this is a genus somewhat intermediate between Acronyctines and Agaristids. It is nocturnal whereas most Agaristids are diurnal, and the tympanum lacks the enlarged bulla characteristic of Agaristids. The adult and larval patterns, however, are clearly Agaristid.
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded and do not differ from those from elsewhere in the range.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954); Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-sized, strikingly marked Noctuid. Very unlike anything else in our fauna except its congener, E. unio. Both have mostly white forewings edged in purple and orange hindwings. The greenish postmedian line distinguishes the two, smooth in this species and inwardly almost serrate in E. unio, a much smaller species. Adults have a very characteristic perching behavior with outstretched, fuzzy forelegs. When disturbed they feign death and curl their abdomen underneath them and fall to the ground.
Wingspan: 35-45 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult Structural Features: The male genitalia are rather typical except the aedeagus which is highly modified. The female genitalia are also strange with the ovipositor lobes enlarged and highly sclerotized but the bursae are much reduced and thread-like. Both male and female genitalia are easy to separate from those of E. unio. The modified ovipositors may reflect a peculiar method of placing eggs on the foodplants.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The caterpillar has the characteristic encircling black, white and orange bands, very lovely.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found throughout the state even above 4000 feet
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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