Moths of North Carolina
Home Page
Recent Entries
Recent Account Updates
County Searches
General Search
Submit a Public Record
Larval Hosts
References
Maps
Draft Checklists
Family PDFs
NC Biodiversity Project
Comments
Significant Contributors
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ACROLEPIIDAE-
ADELIDAE-
AMPHISBATIDAE-
AUTOSTICHIDAE-
BATRACHEDRIDAE-
BEDELLIIDAE-
BLASTOBASIDAE-
BOMBYCIDAE-
BUCCULATRICIDAE-
CARPOSINIDAE-
CHOREUTIDAE-
COLEOPHORIDAE-
COSMOPTERIGIDAE-
COSSIDAE-
CRAMBIDAE-
DEPRESSARIIDAE-
DREPANIDAE-
ELACHISTIDAE-
EPERMENIIDAE-
EPIPYROPIDAE-
EREBIDAE-Erebid Moths
ERIOCRANIIDAE-
EUTELIIDAE-
GALACTICIDAE-
GELECHIIDAE-
GEOMETRIDAE-
GLYPHIDOCERIDAE-
GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE-
GRACILLARIIDAE-
HELIOZELIDAE-
HEPIALIDAE-
HYBLAEIDAE-
INCURVARIIDAE-
LASIOCAMPIDAE-
LECITHOCERIDAE-Long-horned Moths
LIMACODIDAE-
LYONETIIDAE-
MEGALOPYGIDAE-Flannel Moths
MICROPTERIGIDAE-
MIMALLONIDAE-
MOMPHIDAE-Mompha Moths
NEPTICULIDAE-
NOCTUIDAE-Owlet Moths
NOLIDAE-
NOTODONTIDAE-
OECOPHORIDAE-
OPOSTEGIDAE-
PELEOPODIDAE-
PLUTELLIDAE-
PRODOXIDAE-
PSYCHIDAE-Bagworm Moths
PTEROPHORIDAE-
PYRALIDAE-
SATURNIIDAE-Saturniids
SCHRECKENSTEINIIDAE-
SESIIDAE-
SPHINGIDAE-Sphinx Moths
THYATIRIDAE-
THYRIDIDAE-
TINEIDAE-
TISCHERIIDAE-
TORTRICIDAE-
URANIIDAE-
URODIDAE-
XYLORYCTIDAE-
YPONOMEUTIDAE-
YPSOLOPHIDAE-
ZYGAENIDAE-
«
Home
»
View
PDF
Noctuidae Members:
Abagrotis alternata
Abagrotis anchocelioides
Abagrotis brunneipennis
Abagrotis magnicupida
Abagrotis unidentified species
Abrostola ovalis
Abrostola urentis
Achatia distincta
Achatodes zeae
Acherdoa ferraria
Acrapex relicta
Acronicta afflicta
Acronicta albarufa
Acronicta americana
Acronicta betulae
Acronicta brumosa
Acronicta clarescens
Acronicta connecta
Acronicta dolli
Acronicta exilis
Acronicta fallax
Acronicta fragilis
Acronicta funeralis
Acronicta hamamelis
Acronicta hasta
Acronicta hastulifera
Acronicta immodica
Acronicta impleta
Acronicta impressa
Acronicta increta
Acronicta innotata
Acronicta insita
Acronicta insularis
Acronicta interrupta
Acronicta laetifica
Acronicta laetifica-hasta-interrupta
Acronicta lanceolaria
Acronicta lepusculina
Acronicta lithospila
Acronicta lobeliae
Acronicta longa
Acronicta modica
Acronicta morula
Acronicta noctivaga
Acronicta oblinita
Acronicta ovata
Acronicta perblanda
Acronicta radcliffei
Acronicta retardata
Acronicta rubricoma
Acronicta sinescripta
Acronicta spinigera
Acronicta superans
Acronicta tristis
Acronicta tritona
Acronicta unidentified species
Acronicta vinnula
Agnorisma badinodis
Agnorisma bollii
Agrotis buchholzi
Agrotis gladiaria
Agrotis ipsilon
Agrotis malefida
Agrotis unidentified species
Agrotis venerabilis
Agrotis vetusta
Agrotis volubilis
Allagrapha aerea
Alypia octomaculata
Amphipoea americana
Amphipoea erepta
Amphipoea interoceanica
Amphipoea unidentified species
Amphipyra glabella
Amphipyra pyramidoides
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Amyna bullula
Amyna stricta
Amyna unidentified species
Anagrapha falcifera
Anaplectoides brunneomedia
Anaplectoides prasina
Anaplectoides pressus
Anarta trifolii
Anathix ralla
Anicla forbesi
Anicla illapsa
Anicla infecta
Anicla lubricans
Anicla simplicius
Anicla sullivani
Anicla unidentified species
Anterastria teratophora
Apamea amputatrix
Apamea cariosa
Apamea cristata
Apamea devastator
Apamea dubitans
Apamea helva
Apamea indocilis
Apamea inebriata
Apamea lignicolora
Apamea lintneri
Apamea nigrior
Apamea plutonia
Apamea quinteri
Apamea sordens
Apamea verbascoides
Apamea vulgaris
Apamea vultuosa
Apameine new genus 2 sp. 1
Apameine new genus 2 sp. 4
Aplectoides condita
Argillophora furcilla
Argyrogramma verruca
Athetis tarda
Autographa ampla
Autographa precationis
Autoplusia egena
Azenia obtusa
Bagisara rectifascia
Bagisara repanda
Balsa labecula
Balsa malana
Balsa tristrigella
Basilodes pepita
Bellura brehmei
Bellura densa
Bellura gortynoides
Bellura obliqua
Bellura unidentified species
Callopistria cordata
Callopistria floridensis
Callopistria granitosa
Callopistria mollissima
Capis curvata
Cerastis fishii
Cerastis tenebrifera
Cerma cerintha
Cerma cora
Chaetaglaea fergusoni
Chaetaglaea rhonda
Chaetaglaea sericea
Chaetaglaea unidentified species
Charadra deridens
Cherokeea attakullakulla
Chloridea subflexa
Chloridea unidentified species
Chloridea virescens
Choephora fungorum
Chrysanympha formosa
Chrysodeixis includens
Chytonix palliatricula
Chytonix sensilis
Cirrhophanus triangulifer
Colocasia flavicornis
Colocasia propinquilinea
Colocasia unidentified species
Condica confederata
Condica confederata-cupentia
Condica cupentia
Condica mobilis
Condica sutor
Condica unidentified species
Condica vecors
Condica videns
Copivaleria grotei
Cosmia calami
Crambodes talidiformis
Crocigrapha normani
Ctenoplusia oxygramma
Cucullia alfarata
Cucullia asteroides
Cucullia convexipennis
Cucullia florea
Cucullia unidentified species
Dargida aleada
Dargida diffusa
Dargida rubripennis
Dargida unidentified species
Deltote bellicula
Derrima stellata
Diachrysia aereoides
Diachrysia balluca
Diarsia jucunda
Diarsia rubifera
Dichagyris acclivis
Dichagyris broui
Diphthera festiva
Dypterygia patina
Dypterygia rozmani
Egira alternans
Elaphria alapallida
Elaphria chalcedonia
Elaphria cornutinis
Elaphria cyanympha
Elaphria festivoides
Elaphria festivoides complex
Elaphria fuscimacula
Elaphria georgei
Elaphria grata
Elaphria nucicolora
Elaphria unidentified species
Elaphria versicolor
Emarginea percara
Enigmogramma basigera
Eosphoropteryx thyatyroides
Epiglaea apiata
Epiglaea decliva
Epiglaea unidentified species
Eucirroedia pampina
Eucoptocnemis dapsilis
Eucoptocnemis fimbriaris
Eudryas grata
Eudryas unio
Eueretagrotis attentus
Eueretagrotis perattentus
Eueretagrotis sigmoides
Eueretagrotis unidentified species
Euplexia benesimilis
Eupsilia cirripalea
Eupsilia devia
Eupsilia morrisoni
Eupsilia schweitzeri
Eupsilia sidus
Eupsilia tristigmata
Eupsilia unidentified species
Eupsilia vinulenta
Euxoa bostoniensis
Euxoa campestris
Euxoa declarata
Euxoa detersa
Euxoa immixta
Euxoa messoria
Euxoa pleuritica
Euxoa redimicula
Euxoa scholastica
Euxoa tessellata
Euxoa unidentified species
Euxoa velleripennis
Euxoa violaris
Exyra fax
Exyra ridingsii
Exyra semicrocea
Exyra unidentified species
Fagitana littera
Feltia geniculata
Feltia herilis
Feltia jaculifera
Feltia manifesta
Feltia subgothica
Feltia subterranea
Feltia tricosa
Feltia unidentified species
Feralia comstocki
Feralia jocosa
Feralia major
Fishia illocata
Franclemontia interrogans
Galgula partita
Globia oblonga
Hadena capsularis
Hadena ectypa
Harrisimemna trisignata
Helicoverpa zea
Heliocheilus lupatus
Heliocheilus paradoxus
Heliothis unidentified species
Hemipachnobia monochromatea
Hemipachnobia subporphyrea
Homophoberia apicosa
Homophoberia cristata
Homorthodes furfurata
Homorthodes lindseyi
Hyppa contrasta
Hyppa xylinoides
Iodopepla u-album
Ipimorpha pleonectusa
Kocakina fidelis
Lacanobia grandis
Lacanobia subjuncta
Lacinipolia anguina
Lacinipolia erecta
Lacinipolia explicata
Lacinipolia implicata
Lacinipolia laudabilis
Lacinipolia lorea
Lacinipolia meditata
Lacinipolia new species 1 near laudabilis
Lacinipolia new species 2 near laudabilis
Lacinipolia olivacea
Lacinipolia renigera
Lacinipolia teligera
Lacinipolia unidentified species
Lateroligia ophiogramma
Lemmeria digitalis
Leucania adjuta
Leucania calidior
Leucania commoides
Leucania extincta
Leucania incognita
Leucania inermis
Leucania insueta
Leucania lapidaria
Leucania linda
Leucania linita
Leucania multilinea
Leucania phragmitidicola
Leucania pseudargyria
Leucania scirpicola
Leucania subpunctata
Leucania unidentified species
Leucania ursula
Leuconycta diphteroides
Leuconycta lepidula
Lithacodia musta
Lithophane abita
Lithophane antennata
Lithophane baileyi
Lithophane bethunei
Lithophane disposita
Lithophane georgii
Lithophane grotei
Lithophane hemina
Lithophane innominata
Lithophane joannis
Lithophane laceyi
Lithophane laticinerea
Lithophane lemmeri
Lithophane lepida
Lithophane oriunda
Lithophane patefacta
Lithophane petulca
Lithophane querquera
Lithophane scottae
Lithophane semiusta
Lithophane signosa
Lithophane tepida
Lithophane unidentified species
Lithophane unimoda
Lithophane viridipallens
Loscopia roblei
Loscopia velata
Lycophotia phyllophora
Macronoctua onusta
Magusa divaricata
Maliattha concinnimacula
Maliattha synochitis
Marimatha nigrofimbria
Megalographa biloba
Melanapamea mixta
Melanchra adjuncta
Melanchra picta
Meropleon ambifusca
Meropleon cinnamicolor
Meropleon cosmion
Meropleon diversicolor
Meropleon titan
Mesapamea fractilinea
Metaxaglaea australis
Metaxaglaea inulta
Metaxaglaea semitaria
Metaxaglaea unidentified species
Metaxaglaea viatica
Metaxaglaea violacea
Morrisonia confusa
Morrisonia evicta
Morrisonia latex
Morrisonia mucens
Morrisonia triangula
Mouralia tinctoides
Mythimna oxygala
Mythimna unipuncta
Nedra ramosula
Neoligia crytora
Nephelodes minians
Niphonyx segregata
Noctua pronuba
Ochropleura implecta
Ogdoconta cinereola
Oligia chlorostigma
Oligia modica
Orthodes cynica
Orthodes detracta
Orthodes goodelli
Orthodes majuscula
Orthodes unidentified species
Orthosia alurina
Orthosia garmani
Orthosia hibisci
Orthosia revicta
Orthosia rubescens
Orthosia unidentified species
Ozarba aeria
Pachypolia atricornis
Panthea acronyctoides
Panthea furcilla
Papaipema appassionata
Papaipema araliae
Papaipema arctivorens
Papaipema astuta
Papaipema baptisiae
Papaipema cataphracta
Papaipema cerina
Papaipema cerussata
Papaipema duovata
Papaipema eryngii
Papaipema eupatorii
Papaipema furcata
Papaipema impecuniosa
Papaipema inquaesita
Papaipema insulidens
Papaipema lysimachiae
Papaipema marginidens
Papaipema maritima
Papaipema nebris
Papaipema necopina
Papaipema nelita
Papaipema nepheleptena
Papaipema polymniae
Papaipema pterisii
Papaipema rigida
Papaipema rutila
Papaipema sp. 1
Papaipema sp. 3
Papaipema sp. 4
Papaipema speciosissima
Papaipema stenocelis
Papaipema unidentified species
Papaipema unimoda
Parapamea buffaloensis
Parastichtis suspecta
Peridroma saucia
Perigea xanthioides
Phlogophora iris
Phlogophora periculosa
Phosphila miselioides
Phosphila turbulenta
Photedes carterae
Photedes enervata
Plagiomimicus pityochromus
Platypolia anceps
Platypolia mactata
Polia imbrifera
Polia nimbosa
Polychrysia morigera
Polygrammate cadburyi
Polygrammate hebraeicum
Ponometia candefacta
Ponometia erastrioides
Ponometia exigua
Ponometia parvula
Ponometia semiflava
Ponometia tortricina
Properigea costa complex
Properigea tapeta
Protapamea danieli
Protapamea louisae
Protodeltote muscosula
Protolampra brunneicollis
Proxenus miranda
Psaphida electilis
Psaphida grandis
Psaphida resumens
Psaphida rolandi
Psaphida styracis
Psaphida thaxterianus
Pseudeustrotia carneola
Pseudeva purpurigera
Pseudohermonassa bicarnea
Pseudorthodes unidentified species
Pseudorthodes vecors
Psychomorpha epimenis
Pyreferra ceromatica
Pyreferra citrombra
Pyreferra hesperidago
Pyreferra moffatiana
Pyreferra pettiti
Pyreferra slotteni
Pyreferra unidentified species
Pyrrhia aurantiago
Pyrrhia cilisca
Pyrrhia exprimens
Rachiplusia ou
Raphia frater
Resapamea passer
Resapamea trigona
Schinia arcigera
Schinia bina
Schinia carolinensis
Schinia florida
Schinia gracilenta
Schinia grandimedia
Schinia indiana
Schinia jaguarina
Schinia lucens
Schinia lynx
Schinia mitis
Schinia nubila
Schinia nundina
Schinia obscurata
Schinia rivulosa
Schinia sanguinea
Schinia saturata
Schinia scissoides
Schinia septentrionalis
Schinia siren
Schinia sordidus
Schinia thoreaui
Schinia trifascia
Schinia tuberculum
Schinia unidentified species
Sericaglaea signata
Sideridis congermana
Sideridis rosea
Sideridis ruisa
Spaelotis clandestina
Spiramater lutra
Spodoptera dolichos
Spodoptera eridania
Spodoptera exigua
Spodoptera frugiperda
Spodoptera latifascia
Spodoptera ornithogalli
Spodoptera unidentified species
Spragueia apicalis
Spragueia dama
Spragueia leo
Spragueia onagrus
Stiria rugifrons
Subtribe Xylenina Unidentified Species
Sunira bicolorago
Sutyna privata
Sympistis badistriga
Sympistis chionanthi
Sympistis dinalda
Sympistis perscripta
Syngrapha alias
Syngrapha rectangula
Tarache aprica
Tarache terminimaculata
Tricholita signata
Trichoplusia ni
Trichopolia oviduca
Trichordestra beanii
Trichordestra legitima
Tripudia flavofasciata
Tripudia rectangula
Ulolonche culea
Ulolonche modesta
Xanthopastis regnatrix
Xestia badicollis
Xestia c-nigrum
Xestia dilucida
Xestia dolosa
Xestia dolosa complex
Xestia elimata
Xestia elimata complex
Xestia normanianus
Xestia perquiritata
Xestia praevia
Xestia smithii
Xestia unidentified species
Xylomoia chagnoni
Xylotype capax
Xystopeplus rufago
Chytonix
Members:
Chytonix palliatricula
Chytonix sensilis
50 NC Records
Chytonix sensilis
Grote, 1881 - Barrens Marvel
view caption
Males (left row, top then bottom) Sept. 18, 2017, Carteret Co., J. B. Sullivan; Sept. 13, 1995, New Hanover Co., J. B. Sullivan; females (right row, top then bottom) Sept. 8, 2016, Jones Co., J. B. Sullivan; Sept. 18, 2002, Cumberland Co., J. B. Sullivan
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea
Family:
Noctuidae
Subfamily:
Noctuinae
Tribe:
Elaphriini
P3 Number:
932249.00
MONA Number:
9557.00
Comments:
The genus Chytonix nominally contains some 30+ species from India, China, Japan and the Americas. Most belong in other genera, however, particularly the neotropical species. Our fauna is limited to three species of which two occur in North Carolina and all may form a single genus. An apparently undescribed species akin to C. sensilis -- identified with barcoding -- occurs in October and November in central Florida.
Species Status:
A specimen from North Carolina has been barcoded and is similar to those from elsewhere in the species' range. Sensilis was formerly considered distinct from ruperti (e.g., see Forbes, 1954) but Lafontaine and Schimdt (2011) now treat it as a synonym of sensilis.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Online Resources:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
,
BOLD
Technical Description, Adults:
Grote (1881); Forbes (1954)
Technical Description, Immature Stages:
Wagner et al. (2011)
Adult Markings:
A medium-sized, gray and reddish-brown Noctuid, usually with a median dash in the fold connecting the antemedian and postmedian lines and ending with a white point or streak. The antemedian and postmedian are both single, black, and strongly marked; the orbicular and reniform spots are both large and grayish. Sensilis is very similar in size, color, and pattern to Chytonix palliatricula, especially the form (iaspis) that lacks the large median patch of white. Grote (1881) noted a difference between the two species in the postmedian line: in sensilis, there is a slight indentation opposite the cell and the lower portion of this line is fairly straight and meets the inner margin at a right angle; in palliatricula, the postmedian is more excurved opposite the cell and the lower portion is somewhat waved and runs obliquely inward, meeting the inner margin at an acute angle. Forbes (1954) further added that the antemedian is more excurved in sensilis and usually touches the orbicular, whereas it is usually straighter and more oblique in palliatricula, often with a gap separating it from the orbicular. The ground color of the forewings are generally more reddish in sensilis, especially in the subterminal area (Grote, 1881).
Wingspan:
25-32 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult Structural Features:
According to Forbes (1954), the antennae in male sensilis have broad, triangular, ventral extensions that are absent in palliatricula. In the male, the uncus is narrow and slightly curved whereas in C. palliatricula it is arrowhead-shaped. In the female of C. sensilis, the four longitudinal signa present in the bursa of C. palliatricula are absent or barely present.
Structural photos
Male reproductive structures. Sept. 14, 1994, New Hanover Co., J. B. Sullivan
Aedeagus. Sept. 14, 1994, New Hanover Co., J. B. Sullivan
Abdominal pelt, male. Sept. 14, 1994, New Hanover Co., J. B. Sullivan
Female reproductive structures. Sept. 27, 1995, New Hanover Co., J. B. Sullivan
Adult ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development:
According to Wagner et al. (2011), larvae are gray with small pale spots, including somewhat larger subdorsal spot on A1. A broken mid-dorsal series of spots also occurs on segments A3-A7. The head is small, is marked with two black transverse bands, and has fairly long, white antennae. The larvae of both species of Chytonix appear to be very similar and currently need to be reared to adulthood to determine their identity.
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
The vast majority of our records come from the southern half of the Coastal Plain, including the Fall-line Sandhills. We also have three records from the Piedmont and one from the Blue Ridge.
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:
Appears to be univoltine; all of our records come from mid August to early October. Presumably there is a reason this species has a single flight period late in the season but it has not been elucidated. The undescribed species from central Florida, which is very similar in pattern, has a similar flight period and is probably a Pleitocene relict.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
The majority of our records -- including all of those from the Coastal Plain -- come from Longleaf-Pine dominated habitats, including wet savannas, flatwoods, and sandhill seeps a well as dry to xeric sandhills. One of the records from the western Piedmont comes from dry oak-pine forests on a monadnock. The habitats at the other sites in the Piedmont and the one in the Blue Ridge were not recorded.
Larval Host Plants:
According to Wagner et al. (2011), the larvae of
Chytonix
feed on fungi. McCabe (1995) reported that
C. sensilis
feeds on a fungus that grows luxuriously on fire-blackened tree trunks. Interestingly, no caterpillars of this common species have been located in the wild though they should be easy to find perhaps by gathering mushrooms after the flight period, bagging them and looking for frass. However, keep in mind that we do not know whether or not they develop after the adult flight period or overwinter and emerge in the spring. -
View
Observation Methods:
Appears to come well to blacklights. We also have one record from bait.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for
General Dry-Xeric Glades and Barrens
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
W3
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
G4 S3S4
State Protection:
Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:
This species is considered to be a barrens specialist in the Northeast (McCabe, 1995; Wagner et al., 2003), which is consistent with the vast majority of our records. If as speculated by McCabe that it feeds on a fire-dependent fungus, then it could be declining as a result of the widespread suppression of wild fires. However, we have at least one record from an area in the Piedmont where neither wild fires or prescribed burns are frequent, suggesting that there may be other habitat factors of importance. Until more surveys have been conducted for this species -- which has a very narrow flight period -- in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge, an accurate assessment of its conservation status in North Carolina cannot be made.
Photo Gallery for
Chytonix sensilis
- Barrens Marvel
Photos: 8
Recorded by: Stephen Hall, Bo Sullivan, Jim Petranka, and Becky Elkin on 2022-09-26
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, and Bo Sullivan. on 2022-09-26
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, and Bo Sullivan. on 2022-09-26
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2019-09-28
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Robert Gilson on 2015-09-16
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf on 2014-09-17
Vance Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2013-09-26
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: ASH on 2007-08-16
Moore Co.
Comment: