Moths of North Carolina
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Elaphria Members:
442 NC Records

Elaphria versicolor (Grote, 1875) - Variegated Midget

Elaphria versicolorElaphria versicolorElaphria versicolorElaphria versicolor
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Noctuinae		Tribe:
Elaphriini		P3 Number:
932228		 MONA Number:
9678.00		 Other Common Name:
Fir Harlequin
Comments: One of fourteen species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010), nine of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is more evenly dark fuscous than other members of this genus, especially in the anterior costal portion of the wing. The most conspicuous markings include a yellowish patch at the forewing apex, and a white bar or patch at the costa following the postmedial line. The filling between the reniform and the postmededial line is a mix of black and yellowish scales, a key difference distinguishing this species from chalcedonia, which has a solid black filling at that location (Forbes, 1954). The hindwing is evenly fuscous rather than white, as in chalcedonia.
Wingspan: 22 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Elaphria versicolor
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: We have records from nearly all types of forests and shrublands found across the state.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae have been reared on epiphytic algae, bark, galls, fruit, and foliage and have been observed on a number of different deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs (Wagner et al., 2011). Reported hosts include fir (Abies), birch (Betula), larch (Larix), spruce (Picea), pine (Pinus), and hemlock (Tsuga). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Shrublands
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:

 Photo Gallery for Elaphria versicolor - Variegated Midget

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

Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-05-07
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-05-07
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-20
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-19
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-04-05
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-04-05
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2025-04-04
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-03
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-03
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-18
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-11-05
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-01
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-26
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-14
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-03
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-10
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-04
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-26
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Patrick Coin, Mark Basinger on 2024-06-16
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-14
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-12
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-12
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-10
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-27
Madison Co.
Comment: