Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Noctuidae Members:	Callopistria Members:	218 NC Records

Callopistria mollissima (Guenée, 1852) - Pink-shaded Fern Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Noctuidae

Subfamily:
Eriopinae

P3 Number:
932192

MONA Number:
9631.00

Comments: This is a very large genus found worldwide. We have 5 species in the US and Canada of which 4 occur in North Carolina. The genus contains reddish species which feed on ferns and is likely polyphyletic, including our 4 species.

Species Status: Multiple specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded and are similar to those from elsewhere in the species’ range. There is no evidence of sibling species.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)

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

Adult Markings: The broad, reddish postmedial line and the prominent silver horseshoe mark in the reniform space serve to characterize this species. The abdominal tuft is well developed.

Adult Structural Features: The basal brushes on the valves seen in the other three Callopistria species are absent and the attachment of the two valves is moved posteriorly. The sclerotization of the aedeagus and the shape of the vesica differ as well. However, the subterminal tergite has a sclerotized plate, which while different from that in C. granitosa and C. cordata, argues that this species is probably a member of the same genus.

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The caterpillar is greenish or reddish, with oblique white and red stripes (Wagner et al., 2011). There aer two prominent lines on the head capsule found in two other of our species of Callopistria and in Fagitana; this character may be convergent for moths feeding on ferns.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Found across the state, from the Barrier Islands to the High Mountains

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: Our collecting records are throughout the growing season and clear broods are not apparent. It does appear to have one less brood at higher elevations.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: We have records from a wide range of mostly mesic or wet habitats, including maritime forests, peatlands, Longleaf Pine savannas and flatwoods in the Coastal Plain; riparian, lakeshore, and mesic forests throughout the state; and cove forests and northern hardwoods in the Mountains.

Larval Host Plants: Although Wagner et al. (2011) list Hay-scented Fern (Sitobolium punctilobulum) and New York Fern (Amauropelta noveboracensis) as foodplants, neither of those species are in the Coastal Plain where this species is common. Records are needed of which ferns are being used in the various regions of the state. There is a BugGuide record for a larva on a lady fern (Athyrium sp.). - View

Observation Methods: Attracted to lights but no records of it coming to bait or attracted to flowers.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Fernlands

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]

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

Comments: The wide distribution and broad range of habitat types occupied by this species makes this species secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Callopistria mollissima - Pink-shaded Fern Moth

77 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-12 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-12 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-08-19 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-10 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-08-04 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-29 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-03 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-21 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-27 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-07 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-06 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-03 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-16 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-25 McDowell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-07 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-03 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-03 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-29 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Teper, David George on 2023-07-30 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Chuck Smith on 2023-06-29 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-06-14 Richmond Co. Comment: