Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Eupsilia Members:
50 NC Records

Eupsilia vinulenta (Grote, 1864) - Straight-Toothed Sallow


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: XyleniniP3 Number: 932587.00 MONA Number: 9933.00
Comments: A genus of the Northern Hemisphere with some 17 described species, including 8 in North America, with several more about to be described. North Carolina has 6 described and 1 undescribed species, some of which are extremely similar in wing pattern.
Species Status: This species and E. morrisoni have identical barcode haplotypes and specimens from Minnesota south to North Carolina all seem to have similar sequences.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954; descriptions of Eupsilia are available online at http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/MothTalkDownload/MothTalk010.htm)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The commonest species found so far in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain areas. Much like a less boldly marked and larger E. trisigmata. Although Eupsilia schweitzeri is confused with E. cirripalea in the northern part of its range, in our area it is more easily mistaken for E. vinulenta. The reniform can be concolorous, yellowish or white. Sexes are similar.
Adult Structural Features: The forks on the wing scales are uncurled in E. vinulenta but curled in sidus, cirripalea, and schweitzeri. The male genitalia of our Eupsilia species are very similar. In this species the juxta is more triangular than in the other species, the proximal edge has a distinct point and there is a moderately developed neck distally. The S-shaped process arising from the saccular area of the valve is sclerotized basally, evenly wide throughout its course and projects well beyond the costa. In schweitzeri, this process is narrower and shorter. In the female genitalia, the signa are enclosed in a sclerotized band absent in the other species. The ostial plate is almost square proximally and incised distally.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: Eupsilia larvae are all similar to one another: variable in color; a narrow spiracular stripe usually the most prominent but with other lines also present; a darkened prothoracic shield, usually with two pale stripes. Wagner et al. (2011) recommend that larvae be reared to adulthood in order to determine the species.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Over much of the state, this is the most common member of the genus.
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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