Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Noctuidae Members:	Cosmia Members:	129 NC Records

Cosmia calami (Harvey, 1876) - American Dun-bar Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Noctuidae

Subfamily:
Noctuinae

Tribe:
Xylenini

P3 Number:
932672

MONA Number:
9815.00

Comments: The genus consists of some 31 species, of which 23 are European, 4 African and 4 from North America. One species reaches North Carolina and is found throughout the state. The genus is subdivided into two subgenera based on the form of the female genitalia. Our species belong to the subgenus Calymnia which has highly modified anal papillae and was recently reviewed (Lafontaine and Troubridge, 2003).

Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded and are similar to those from elsewhere; there is no evidence of sibling species. Although the two subgenera seem quite different based on the genitalia, barcoding places them together, supporting the current phylogeny.

Identification

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

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

Technical Description, Adults: Lafontaine and Troubridge, 2003

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954); Wagner et al. (2011)

Adult Markings: Our species is smallish, about the size of many Lacinipolia species, with rounded and somewhat blunted forewings. The maculation is highly variable from a uniform pale yellow to a highly spotted orange-tan. The courses of the antemedial and postmedial lines form a triangle which is diagnostic. The lines are well separated on the costa but approach each other at the anal edge of the wing. Sexes are similar.

Adult Structural Features: In the male, our species has muted characters presenting valves with small bumps and projections. In other species, these features are more pronounced. The vesica has a single cornutus and prominent basal evagination. It is the female which has diagnostic genitalic characters for the anal papillae are highly modified and serrate while the base is expanded forming a setose cup around the papillae. The structure of the bursa is very compact with four elongate signa in the bursa copulatrix.

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The green caterpillar is overlain with white spots and has a distinct white middorsal stripe. They hide in curled leaves or spin a shelter (Wagner et al, 2011).

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: The distribution in the Coastal Plain is very spotty; abundant where found but in few places. Elsewhere, it occurs with more regularity but is seldom common.

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
Immature 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: There seems to be one principal flight period in the early summer and then stragglers in September.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records are predominantly from upland hardwood forests or from mixed stands where at least some hardwoods -- particularly oaks - are present. These range from mesic to dry, but we have no records from maritime forests or from stands of bottomland hardwoods. It also appears to be missing from Longleaf Pine savannas and flatwoods, where hardwood trees are generally absent. No records come from peatlands, which possess hardwood trees in some cases, but usually not oaks.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are associated with oaks. They are famous for voraciously feeding on other caterpillars but can be reared on foliage alone. Reported hosts include White Oak (Quercus alba), Scarlet Oak (Q. coccinea), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra), and Live Oak (Q. virginiana) (Covell, 1984; Robinson et al., 2010). We do not have any host records in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: Adults respond to light but their response to bait or flowers seems to be unknown.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S3S4]

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

Comments: This species presents a wonderful opportunity for additional study. Why are the female genitalia so modified - is it related to egg laying? Why do the caterpillars prey on other caterpillars? With but a single brood, there seems little pressure (unique to this species) to quickly pass through the larval stages. Are they cannibalistic? Do females select specific oak species, and do they utilize other plants? What limits their distribution in the Coastal Plain? Certainly this is a most interesting and little understood species. Nonetheless, its wide distribution and use of a broad range of habitats makes it seem secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Cosmia calami - American Dun-bar Moth

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-16 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-25 McDowell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-17 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-29 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-05-19 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Teper, David George on 2023-07-30 Swain Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-27 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-06-06 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-06-05 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-06-04 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-06-04 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-24 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-05-18 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-14 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-06-07 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-06-06 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson, Stephen Dunn on 2022-06-04 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-04 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-02 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-01 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-05-31 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-05-30 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-05-30 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-05-26 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-05 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-02 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-06-06 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-31 Wake Co. Comment: