Moths of North Carolina
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Significant Contributors
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ACROLEPIIDAE-
ADELIDAE-Fairy moths
AMPHISBATIDAE-
AUTOSTICHIDAE-
BATRACHEDRIDAE-Batrachedrid Moths
BEDELLIIDAE-Bedelliid Moths
BLASTOBASIDAE-
BOMBYCIDAE-
BUCCULATRICIDAE-
CARPOSINIDAE-
CHOREUTIDAE-Metalmark Moths
COLEOPHORIDAE-Casebearer Moths and Relatives
COSMOPTERIGIDAE-Cosmopterigid Moths
COSSIDAE-Carpenter Moths, Goat Moths
CRAMBIDAE-Grass Moths, Snout Moths
DEPRESSARIIDAE-
DREPANIDAE-Hook-tips and Thyatirid Moths
ELACHISTIDAE-Grassminer Moths and Relatives
EPERMENIIDAE-
EPIPYROPIDAE-
EREBIDAE-Erebid Moths
ERIOCRANIIDAE-
EUTELIIDAE-
GALACTICIDAE-
GELECHIIDAE-Gelechiid Moths; Twirler Moths
GEOMETRIDAE-Geometer Moths, Loopers
GLYPHIDOCERIDAE-
GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE-Sedge Moths
GRACILLARIIDAE-Leafblotch miner moths
HELIOZELIDAE-Shield bearer moths
HEPIALIDAE-Ghost or Swift Moths
HYBLAEIDAE-
INCURVARIIDAE-
LASIOCAMPIDAE-Tent Caterpillar Moths, Lappet Moths
LECITHOCERIDAE-Long-horned Moths
LIMACODIDAE-Slug Caterpillar Moths
LYONETIIDAE-Lyonetiid Moths
MEGALOPYGIDAE-Flannel Moths
MICROPTERIGIDAE-Mandibulate Moths
MIMALLONIDAE-
MOMPHIDAE-Mompha Moths
NEPTICULIDAE-Minute leaf miners
NOCTUIDAE-Owlet Moths
NOLIDAE-
NOTODONTIDAE-Prominents
OECOPHORIDAE-Oecophorid Moths
OPOSTEGIDAE-
PELEOPODIDAE-
PLUTELLIDAE-Diamondback Moths
PRODOXIDAE-Yucca Moths
PSYCHIDAE-Bagworm Moths
PTEROPHORIDAE-Plume Moths
PYRALIDAE-Pyralid Moths, Snout Moths
SATURNIIDAE-Giant Silkworm Moths
SCHRECKENSTEINIIDAE-Schreckensteiniid Moths
SESIIDAE-Clearwing Moths
SPHINGIDAE-Sphinx Moths
THYATIRIDAE-
THYRIDIDAE-Window-winged Moths
TINEIDAE-Clothes moths
TISCHERIIDAE-Tischerid Moths
TORTRICIDAE-Leafroller Moths
URANIIDAE-
URODIDAE-Urodid Moths
XYLORYCTIDAE-
YPONOMEUTIDAE-Ermine Moths
YPSOLOPHIDAE-Ypsolophid Moths
ZYGAENIDAE-
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Erebidae Members:
Abablemma brimleyana
Allotria elonympha
Amolita fessa
Amolita obliqua
Amolita roseola
Amolita unidentified species
Anomis editrix
Anomis erosa
Anomis flava
Anomis illita
Anticarsia gemmatalis
Apantesis anna
Apantesis arge
Apantesis carlotta
Apantesis doris
Apantesis figurata
Apantesis nais
Apantesis parthenice
Apantesis phalerata
Apantesis phyllira
Apantesis placentia
Apantesis unidentified species
Apantesis virgo
Apantesis virguncula
Apantesis vittata
Arctia caja
Arctia parthenos
Argyrostrotis anilis
Argyrostrotis deleta
Argyrostrotis erasa
Argyrostrotis flavistriaria
Argyrostrotis quadrifilaris
Argyrostrotis sylvarum
Arugisa latiorella
Arugisa lutea
Arugisa unidentified species
Ascalapha odorata
Bleptina caradrinalis
Bleptina inferior
Bleptina sangamonia
Caenurgia chloropha
Caenurgia unidentified species
Caenurgina crassiuscula
Caenurgina erechtea
Caenurgina unidentified species
Calyptra canadensis
Catocala abbreviatella
Catocala aestivalia
Catocala agrippina
Catocala alabamae
Catocala amatrix
Catocala amestris
Catocala amica
Catocala amica complex
Catocala andromedae
Catocala angusi
Catocala blandula
Catocala cara
Catocala carissima
Catocala cerogama
Catocala clintonii
Catocala coccinata
Catocala concumbens
Catocala connubialis
Catocala consors
Catocala crataegi
Catocala dejecta
Catocala dulciola
Catocala epione
Catocala flebilis
Catocala gracilis
Catocala grisatra
Catocala grynea
Catocala habilis
Catocala herodias
Catocala ilia
Catocala ilia-umbrosa
Catocala illecta
Catocala innubens
Catocala insolabilis
Catocala jair
Catocala judith
Catocala lacrymosa
Catocala lincolnana
Catocala lineella
Catocala louiseae
Catocala luctuosa
Catocala maestosa
Catocala marmorata
Catocala messalina
Catocala micronympha
Catocala minuta
Catocala mira
Catocala miranda
Catocala muliercula
Catocala myristica
Catocala nebulosa
Catocala neogama
Catocala obscura
Catocala orba
Catocala palaeogama
Catocala piatrix
Catocala praeclara
Catocala pretiosa
Catocala residua
Catocala retecta
Catocala robinsonii
Catocala sappho
Catocala serena
Catocala similis
Catocala sordida
Catocala subnata
Catocala ulalume
Catocala ultronia
Catocala umbrosa
Catocala unidentified species
Catocala unijuga
Catocala vidua
Celiptera frustulum
Chytolita morbidalis
Chytolita sp. 1
Chytolita sp. 2
Chytolita unidentified species
Cisseps fulvicollis
Cissusa spadix
Cisthene kentuckiensis
Cisthene packardii
Cisthene plumbea
Cisthene subjecta
Cisthene tenuifascia
Clemensia albata
Clemensia ochreata
Clemensia umbrata
Clemensia unidentified species
Colobochyla interpuncta
Cosmosoma myrodora
Crambidia casta
Crambidia lithosioides
Crambidia new species (minute)
Crambidia pallida
Crambidia pura
Crambidia unidentified species
Crambidia uniformis
Crambidia xanthocorpa
Cutina albopunctella
Cutina aluticolor
Cutina arcuata
Cutina distincta
Cycnia collaris
Cycnia oregonensis
Cycnia tenera
Cycnia unidentified species
Dasychira atrivenosa
Dasychira basiflava
Dasychira dorsipennata
Dasychira leucophaea
Dasychira manto
Dasychira meridionalis
Dasychira obliquata
Dasychira plagiata
Dasychira tephra
Dasychira unidentified species
Dasychira vagans
Dinumma deponens
Doryodes bistrialis
Doryodes fusselli
Doryodes spadaria
Doryodes unidentified species
Drasteria grandirena
Drasteria graphica
Dyspyralis illocata
Dyspyralis nigellus
Dyspyralis ocala
Dyspyralis puncticosta
Ephyrodes cacata
Estigmene acrea
Eublemma minima
Eublemma recta
Euchaetes egle
Euclidia cuspidea
Euparthenos nubilis
Gabara distema
Gabara obscura
Gabara pulverosalis
Gabara subnivosella
Gabara unidentified species
Gondysia consobrina
Gondysia similis
Gondysia smithii
Gondysia telma
Gondysia unidentified species
Halysidota cinctipes
Halysidota harrisii
Halysidota tessellaris
Halysidota unidentified species
Haploa clymene
Haploa colona
Haploa confusa
Haploa contigua
Haploa lecontei
Haploa reversa
Haploa unidentified species
Hemeroplanis habitalis
Hemeroplanis new species 1 nr. obliqualis
Hemeroplanis scopulepes
Herminiinae unidentified species
Hormoschista latipalpis
Hypena abalienalis
Hypena appalachiensis
Hypena baltimoralis
Hypena bijugalis
Hypena deceptalis
Hypena degesalis
Hypena edictalis
Hypena eductalis
Hypena humuli
Hypena madefactalis
Hypena manalis
Hypena minualis
Hypena palparia
Hypena ramstadtii
Hypena scabra
Hypena sordidula
Hypena unidentified species
Hypenodes caducus
Hypenodes fractilinea
Hypenodes franclemonti
Hypenopsis calusa
Hypenula cacuminalis
Hypercompe scribonia
Hyperstrotia aetheria
Hyperstrotia flaviguttata
Hyperstrotia nana
Hyperstrotia pervertens
Hyperstrotia secta
Hyperstrotia unidentified species
Hyperstrotia villificans
Hyphantria cunea
Hypocala andremona
Hypoprepia fucosa
Hypoprepia miniata
Hypsoropha hormos
Hypsoropha monilis
Idia aemula
Idia americalis
Idia concisa of authors
Idia denticulalis
Idia diminuendis
Idia forbesii
Idia julia
Idia laurentii
Idia lubricalis
Idia majoralis
Idia rotundalis
Idia scobialis
Idia unidentified species
Isogona tenuis
Lascoria ambigualis
Ledaea perditalis
Lesmone detrahens
Leucanopsis longa
Litoprosopus futilis
Lophocampa caryae
Lophocampa maculata
Lycomorpha pholus
Lymantria dispar
Macrochilo absorptalis
Macrochilo hypocritalis
Macrochilo litophora
Macrochilo louisiana
Macrochilo orciferalis
Macrochilo santerivalis
Manulea bicolor
Melanomma auricinctaria
Melipotis fasciolaris
Melipotis indomita
Melipotis jucunda
Metalectra albilinea
Metalectra diabolica
Metalectra discalis
Metalectra quadrisignata
Metalectra richardsi
Metalectra tantillus
Metallata absumens
Metria amella
Mocis latipes
Mocis marcida
Mocis texana
Mocis unidentified species
Neoplynes eudora
Nigetia formosalis
Orgyia antiqua
Orgyia definita
Orgyia detrita
Orgyia leucostigma
Orgyia unidentified species
Oruza albocostaliata
Oxycilla malaca
Oxycilla mitographa
Pagara simplex
Palthis angulalis
Palthis asopialis
Palthis unidentified species
Pangrapta decoralis
Pangrapta unidentified species
Panopoda carneicosta
Panopoda repanda
Panopoda rufimargo
Panopoda unidentified species
Parahypenodes quadralis
Parallelia bistriaris
Phalaenophana pyramusalis
Phalaenostola eumelusalis
Phalaenostola larentioides
Phalaenostola metonalis
Phoberia atomaris
Phoberia ingenua
Phoberia unidentified species
Phyprosopus callitrichoides
Phytometra rhodarialis
Phytometra unidentified species
Plusiodonta compressipalpis
Pseudanthracia coracias
Ptichodis bistrigata
Ptichodis herbarum
Ptichodis vinculum
Pygarctia abdominalis
Pyrrharctia isabella
Redectis pygmaea
Redectis vitrea
Renia adspergillus
Renia discoloralis
Renia factiosalis
Renia flavipunctalis
Renia fraternalis
Renia nemoralis
Renia new species near discoloralis
Renia salusalis
Renia salusalis-fraternalis
Renia sobrialis
Renia unidentified species
Rivula propinqualis
Rivula stepheni
Rusicada privata
Scolecocampa liburna
Scoliopteryx libatrix
Selenisa sueroides
Sigela basipunctaria
Sigela brauneata
Sigela penumbrata
Sigela rosea
Simplicia cornicalis
Spargaloma sexpunctata
Spiloloma lunilinea
Spilosoma congrua
Spilosoma dubia
Spilosoma latipennis
Spilosoma unidentified species
Spilosoma virginica
Tetanolita floridana
Tetanolita mynesalis
Thysania zenobia
Utetheisa ornatrix
Virbia aurantiaca
Virbia ferruginosa
Virbia laeta
Virbia opella
Virbia rubicundaria
Virbia unidentified species
Zale aeruginosa
Zale bethunei
Zale buchholzi
Zale calycanthata
Zale confusa
Zale curema
Zale declarans
Zale duplicata
Zale fictilis
Zale galbanata
Zale helata
Zale horrida
Zale intenta
Zale intenta/lunifera
Zale lunata
Zale lunifera
Zale metata
Zale metatoides
Zale minerea
Zale new species near buchholzi
Zale obliqua
Zale phaeocapna
Zale pine-feeding complex
Zale squamularis
Zale submediana
Zale undularis
Zale unidentified species
Zale unilineata
Zanclognatha atrilineella
Zanclognatha cruralis
Zanclognatha dentata
Zanclognatha jacchusalis
Zanclognatha laevigata
Zanclognatha lituralis
Zanclognatha marcidilinea
Zanclognatha martha
Zanclognatha minoralis
Zanclognatha obscuripennis
Zanclognatha pedipilalis
Zanclognatha protumnusalis
Zanclognatha theralis
Zanclognatha theralis complex
Zanclognatha unidentified species
Amolita
Members:
Amolita fessa
Amolita obliqua
Amolita roseola
Amolita unidentified species
95 NC Records
Amolita obliqua
Smith, 1903 - Oblique Grass Moth
view caption
Male (left top) Aug. 17, 1990, Craven Co., J. B. Sullivan; (left bottom) Aug. 27, 1993, Carteret Co., J. B. Sullivan; female (right top) May 21, 2016, Carteret Co., J. B. Sullivan
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea
Family:
Erebidae
Subfamily:
Erebinae
Tribe:
Ophiusini
P3 Number:
931061
MONA Number:
9819.00
Comments:
The genus
Amolita
is currently placed in the Erebidae in the tribe Ophiusini together with such dissimilar genera as
Zale
,
Ophisma
and
Metria
. Previously it was thought to be near
Metalectra
and it likely will be moved again. The genus consists of 12 described species from the New World, five are known from the U.S. and three are found in North Carolina. However, the uncertainty surrounding the generic placement descends to the species level as well since many of our species appear to be complexes of multiple species.
Species Status:
Specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded and together with specimens from Florida and coastal Alabama appear to form a homogeneous cluster indicative of a single species. Specimens from the western part of the state are probably misidentifications and more specimens need to be dissected to determine if
Amolita obliqua
actually occurs in the western Piedmont or Mountains.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Online Resources:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
,
BOLD
Technical Description, Adults:
Smith (1903); Forbes (1954)
Technical Description, Immature Stages:
Forbes (1954)
Adult Markings:
Amolita obliqua
is a medium-small, pale cream Erebid with two oblique lines in the outer part of the forewing. The head, thorax, and ground color of the forewings is yellowish cream (Smith, 1903), frequently flushed or shaded with pink or reddish, but not as extensively and evenly as in
A. roseola
. A dark fuscous stripe runs from the apex down to the inner margin, followed by an outer line that extends down from the outer margin below the apex, curving inward before the inner margin. A diffuse dark shade may also extend out from the base, as in
A. fessa
, but usually either crosses the inner oblique line or only weakly joins it, not forming an even upward curve as in
A. fessa
(Smith, 1903). The orbicular and reniform spots are represented by dark dots on the forewings. The hindwings are paler yellowish and immaculate. Sexes similar in pattern but the female is larger. In most cases, the parallel, oblique lines -- often shaded with red -- should distinguish this species from
A. fessa
, but specimens that have a smooth join between the basal line and the inner oblique line, with little extension of the oblique line below the join, should probably be dissected to determine their identity.
Wingspan:
20-25 mm (Smith, 1903)
Adult Structural Features:
Very like
Amolita fessa
but males with longer antennal pectinations; female have fasciculate antennae. The uncus is expanded below its tip (not so in the other two species) and the valve tip is bifurcate but not with an “elbow” as in
A. fessa
.
Structural photos
Male reproductive structures. June 1, 1983, Carteret Co., J. B. Sullivan
Aedeagus. June 1, 1983, Carteret Co., J. B. Sullivan
Female reproductive structures. Aug. 14, 1990, Craven Co., J. B. Sullivan
Adult ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development:
A larva of a Floridian specimen of
Amolita obliqua
described by Franclemont (in Forbes, 1954) was slender, had only two pairs of prolegs, and a roughly granulated integument. The color of the body was pale whitish (clay color), finely striated with pale brown and heavier, double, pale-filled dorsal, addorsal, subdorsal, and lateral lines (see Forbes for additional details).
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
This species appears to be more confined to the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont than
Amolita fessa
. Mis-identifications could be clouding range differences and specimens of this genus from the western Piedmont and Mountains need to be verified by dissection or barcoding.
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:
The phenology appears to be the same as for the other two species in the Coastal Plain, with two distinct flights
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Our records for
Amolita obliqua
come from a wide variety of wetland habitats, including swamp forests and bottomlands; wet pine savannas and sandhill seeps; and shallow impoundments, including interdune ponds on barrier islands, beaver ponds, and reservoir shorelines. This range of habitats is very similar to that of
A. fessa
and the two species are often found together.
A. obliqua
, however, seems to be much more prevalent in open savanna and seepage habitats associated with Longleaf and Pond Pines. At least a few of our records appear to be associated with pocosins and other peatlands, where
A. fessa
appears to be absent.
Larval Host Plants:
The Florida specimen described by Franclemont was reported as feeding on grass, but it is not clear if it was reared in captivity or found in the wild. Species of graminoids are the more likely host plants, but
Carex
and other sedges are usually more prevalent in the habitats where this species has been recorded than grasses. -
View
Observation Methods:
Adults readily come to light and can be flushed from wet savannas and other sedge-filled sites during the day.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for
General Sedge, Grass, and Rush Mires
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
G5 [S4S5]
State Protection:
Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:
Amolita obliqua
appears to be somewhat more specialized in its habitats than
A. fessa
, but far less so than
A. roseola
, and occupies a much wider range in the state. Consequently, it appears to be fairly secure.
Photo Gallery for
Amolita obliqua
- Oblique Grass Moth
33 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-04
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2024-08-31
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-22
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-19
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall, David George, and David Bradley on 2024-05-07
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-27
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-18
Caswell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-08-01
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-05-30
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2022-08-19
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-20
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-19
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-16
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-08-24
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2019-05-07
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Amanda Auxier on 2017-10-08
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Amanda Auxier on 2017-10-08
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2016-05-12
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2015-08-20
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2015-05-31
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jason Brown on 2014-08-24
Wake Co.
Comment: