Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Fagitana Members:
45 NC Records

Fagitana littera (Guenée, 1852) - Marsh Fern Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: XyleniniP3 Number: 932749.00 MONA Number: 9629.00
Comments: An isolated genus of two species; one occurs in China, the other in Eastern North America. This pattern is observed in a number of moth and butterfy genera. Larvae, foodplant and general color place it near Callopistria but genitalia and barcodes do not.
Species Status: North Carolina specimens have been barcoded and match those from other Southeastern US locations. A single northern specimen from Canada is somewhat different but probably not specifically distinct.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The brick red color with a distinct white reverse L-shaped reniform are unique. This species should not be confused with any other species. Sexes are similar.
Adult Structural Features: Male and female genitalia are particularly distinct in many characters.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are green with numerous longitudinal white lines in the early stages but become browner in the later stages.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: All of our records come from the Coastal Plain.
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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Flight Comments: Probably three broods with adults first flying in early April.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records all come from wet swales. In addition to the floodplains of small creeks, we have records from peatlands, wet savannas, and maritime/estuarine swamp forests.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on the leaves of Chain Ferns (Woodwardia sp.) and perhaps other fern species as well. - View
Observation Methods: Adults come readily to light but probably do not respond to bait or flowers. Larvae should be looked for by sweeping patches of ferns.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Coastal Plain Blackwater Wetlands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
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 appears to be a host plant specialist, as well as restricted to a fairly narrow range of habitats. Both its host plants and habitats, however, appear to be fairly secure, and therefore the moth as well.