Moths of North Carolina
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Eupsilia Members:
13 NC Records

Eupsilia schweitzeri Lavitt & Wagner, 2016 - Schweitzer's Sallow

Eupsilia schweitzeri
view caption 		Eupsilia schweitzeri
view caption
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: XyleniniP3 Number: 932588.1 MONA Number: 9933.20 MONA Synonym: Eupsilia schweitzeri
Comments: A genus of the northern hemisphere with some 17 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: It is abundantly distinct from the other species of Eupsilia and populations from North Carolina and Connecticut have similar haplotypes.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Not in either field guideOnline Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The adult reminds us of what a hybrid between E. vinulenta and E. cirripalea might look like. It is less patterned than E. vinulenta but more so than E. sidus and E. cirripalea. The reniform can be concolorous, yellowish or white but the frequency of the white morph is much higher than in the populations of E. vinulenta that we have examined.
Adult Structural Features: The forks of the wing scales are curled, similar to cirripalea and sidus but contrasting with E. vinulenta. The male genitalia of our Eupsilia species are very similar. The s-shaped process from the saccular area is similar to that in E. vinulenta but much shorter, usually curling below the costal edge of the wing. The shape of the juxta differs from E. vinulenta in that it is more pointed proximally, the neck is wider distally, and it does not appear triangular. In the female, as in E. cirripalea, the bursa has two signa and remnants of the missing ones but these are quite short. There is no additional sclerotization in this area as there is in E. vinulenta. The ostial plate is rounded proximally and deeply incised ventrally.
Structural photos
Immatures and Development: Undescribed
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This species has been recorded so far in the northern mountains, although there are some specimens reported from Macon County that still need to be verified. In Connecticut it occurs widely over the state so it may occur in the Piedmont of North Carolina well.
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: We have records from October through April.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our few records are from stands of fairly mesic hardwoods located at moderate elevations in the Mountains.
Larval Host Plants: Unpublished but probably including black cherry. - View
Observation Methods: Adults readily come to bait and have been collected in light traps. It commonly occurs in maple sap collections!
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR SU]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: May be common and secure in the Mountains but too little is yet known about this species to determine its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Eupsilia schweitzeri - Schweitzer's Sallow

Photos: 3

Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-01-01
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-03-23
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-02-21
Madison Co.
Comment: