Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Phosphila Members: 486 NC Records

Phosphila miselioides (Guenée, 1852) - Spotted Phosphila


Phosphila miselioidesPhosphila miselioides
view caption
Phosphila miselioidesPhosphila miselioides
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea
Family:
Noctuidae
Subfamily:
Noctuinae
Tribe:
Phosphilini
P3 Number:
932209
MONA Number:
9619.00
Comments: A New World genus of some 8 species of which 3 occur in the United States and 2 in North Carolina. Together with Acherodoa ferraria, they are the only members of the tribe Phosphilini in our state. Placement of the tribe is uncertain (Wagner et al, 2011).
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been examined and match other specimens from throughout a large portion of North America. There is no evidence of unrecognized species in the complex.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954); Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The greenish color pattern will differentiate this species from most other moderately-sized Noctuids. Two forms are found, with and without a large white reniform spot. Freshly emerged individuals are quite striking.
Adult Structural Features: The male genitalia are readily identified because the valves have almost no features but the vesica has two large patches of cornuti. In the female the bursae is long and narrow, quite unlike most other Noctuids.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Caterpillars are frequently found at the growing tip of the vines, are green with a white spiracular line and white, well-spaced dots on the dorsum. The prepupa turns black but the white spots persist.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found statewide, from the Barrier Islands to the High Mountains.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Phosphila miselioidesAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
Flight Comments: There are probably three broods in the Coastal Plain and two in most mid and low mountain regions. The broods seem to be drawn out so that one can expect adults almost any time from April through September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Found wherever the plant genus Smilax occurs, including dry maritime dunes, scrub, and forests; peatlands; Longleaf Pine savannas and flatwoods; floodplain forests; and mesic forests, including Cove Forests and Northern Hardwoods in the Mountains.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on greenbriers (Smilax) (Wagner et al., 2011). In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded feeding on Roundleaf Greenbrier (S. rotundifolia). - View
Observation Methods: Adults are attracted to light but we are unaware of any reports of them visiting flowers. They do come to bait at times.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Greenbrier Tangles
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Widespread and occupies a wide range of fairly common habitats. Appears to be secure within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Phosphila miselioides - Spotted Phosphila

139 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-02
Wilson Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-18
Wilson Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-05
Moore Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-17
Wilson Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-01
Durham Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-30
Wilson Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-30
Wilson Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14
Bladen Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-06
Rowan Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-06
Brunswick Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-09-12
Carteret Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-12
Wilson Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-02
Madison Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-03
Madison Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-17
Wilson Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-14
Brunswick Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-14
Brunswick Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-15
Scotland Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-06-12
Carteret Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-05-24
Buncombe Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-23
Wilson Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-23
Wilson Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-12
Madison Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-11
Carteret Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-07
Wilson Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-07
Wilson Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-04-27
Carteret Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-17
New Hanover Co.
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Phosphila miselioidesRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-16
New Hanover Co.
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