Moths of North Carolina
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54 NC Records

Acherdoa ferraria Walker, 1865 - Chocolate Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: PhosphiliniP3 Number: 932213.00 MONA Number: 9636.00
Comments: This monotypic genus is known only from the southeastern US.
Species Status: A specimen from North Carolina has been barcoded and is very similar to those from Florida and South Carolina; there is no evidence of heterogeneity.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: No technical works appear to be available, but the species is well-described in Covell's Field Guide.                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium sized, purplish- to chocolate-brown Noctuid; the zig-zagged antemedian is marked with white at the lower end, as is the lower portion of the postmedian and the outline of the reniform. Females are at least twice the size of males.
Wingspan: 2.1 - 2.7 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult Structural Features: Males have broadly pectinate antennae, which are simple in the females. The genitalia of both males and females are distinct and show similarities to those of Phosphila species, thus confirming its placement in the Phospholinii. The male valve has virtually no ornamentation and the female bursae is extremely long and without signa.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae appear to be undescribed
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: With the exception of one record from the Piedmont, our records are all 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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