Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Amphipoea Members:
16 NC Records

Amphipoea interoceanica (Smith, 1899) - Interoceanic Ear Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: ApameiniP3 Number: 932446.00 MONA Number: 9456.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Very similar in color and markings to Amphipoea americana, but is smaller and "a shade more stocky" (Forbes, 1954). According to Covell (1984), the pale filling of the reniform is confined to the outer 2/3 in A. interoceanica. Differences in color and extent of the pale filling in the reniform, however, do not seem as apparent in North Carolina specimens (J.B. Sullivan, pers. obs.).
Wingspan: 30 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Forewing Length: 13 mm (J.B. Sullivan, pers. obs.)
Adult Structural Features: Males are best distinguished by the length and shape of the digitus: "long, pointed, projecting far beyond the lower edge of valve" in americana but "short, obliquely truncate, not projecting beyond edge of valve" in A. interoceanica (described and illustrated by Forbes, 1954). The antennae are somewhat serrate in the males, with the serrations shorter in A. interoceanica than in A. americana (J.B. Sullivan, pers. obs.).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: As of 2023, all of our records for the species come from the mountains, including both low and high elevations.
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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