Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Noctuidae Members:	Iodopepla Members:	253 NC Records

Iodopepla u-album (Guenée, 1852) - White-eyed Borer Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Noctuidae

Subfamily:
Noctuinae

Tribe:
Actinotiini

P3 Number:
932287

MONA Number:
9522.00

Other Common Name:
Burgundy St. Johnswort Moth

Comments: A New World genus with one species in Cuba and one in eastern North America, including North Carolina. Long regarded as an isolated genus, we now know that the North American species is quite closely related to the genus Nedra based on barcodes, genitalia and life histories.

Species Status: Specimens from throughout its range in the eastern United States and Canada are similar to those from North Carolina and no significant heterogeneity is present.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954), as Oligia? u-album

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)

Adult Markings: This is a medium-sized Noctuid with a dark purplish- or vinaceous ground color, dusted with gray. The u-shaped reniform has a contrasting white partial outline filled with the ground color and also somewhat dusted with paler scales, particularly towards the inner margin. The antemedian and postmedian lines are dark purplish and uneven; often only the lower portions near the inner margin are distinct. The subterminal is diffuse, marked mainly with the paler gray scales on the inner side and darker purple on the outer side. The hindwings are fuscous.

Adult Structural Features: Both male and female genitalia are quite distinct and do not resemble any species likely to be confused with it based on maculation. Similarities to Nedra are apparent.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Larvae are similar to those of Nedra: brown with a pale spiracular stripe (see Wagner et al., 2011, for illustrations and a detailed description).

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: This species is far more common in the eastern half of the state but is regularly taken in the mountains up to about 3500’.

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) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: In the Coastal Plain, there appear to be three distinct broods, beginning early in the spring.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The vast majority of our records come from Longleaf Pine habitats, including wet savannas, mesic flatwoods, and xeric sandhills. However, we also have records from peatlands, river floodplains, lakeshores, mafic glades, and dry upland slopes.

Larval Host Plants: Stenophagous, feeding on various species of St. John's-wort (Hypericum sp.). Nedra caterpillars also feed on species of St. John's-wort, and once it was realized that the genitalia of Iodopepla and Nedra were similar, eggs were obtained from a gravid female of Iodopepla in North Carolina and offered Hypericum cuttings which they readily consumed. Host usage in the wild is poorly documented, though there is a BugGuide record (George Smiley, 2014) for a larva on St. Andrew's-cross (Hypericum hypericoides) in Texas. - View

Observation Methods: Adults are attracted to light and caterpillars seem to remain on the foodplant and so should be found by beating. Nedra is said to come to bait but we have not seen similar behavior in Iodopepla.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for St. John's-wort Thickets

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S4]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: Iodopepla appears to be less widely distributed than Nedra ramosula, but appears to be far more common within at least certain habitats, particularly Longleaf Pine-dominated communities. Given its use of a fairly wide range of habitats, it is probably secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Iodopepla u-album - White-eyed Borer Moth

Photos: 15

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-15 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-15 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2017-03-25 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2016-03-08 Warren Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2016-03-08 Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2012-10-16 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2012-05-19 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-08-24 Warren Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Bo Sullivan on 0000-00-00 Carteret Co. Comment: Eggs
	Recorded by: Bo Sullivan on 0000-00-00 Carteret Co. Comment: 1st instar		Recorded by: Bo Sullivan on 0000-00-00 Carteret Co. Comment: 2nd instar
	Recorded by: Bo Sullivan on 0000-00-00 Carteret Co. Comment: 3d instar