Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Noctuidae Members:	Eupsilia Members:	29 NC Records

Eupsilia cirripalea Franclemont, 1952 - Franclemont's Sallow

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Noctuidae

Subfamily:
Noctuinae

Tribe:
Xylenini

P3 Number:
932589

MONA Number:
9934.00

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: Our specimens are quite uniform and match those from Tennessee and New Jersey.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)

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

Adult Markings: This species and E. sidus can usually be distinguished from the remaining species because their pattern is plain, with many of the cross wing lines obscure compared to the other species, but differentiating them from each other is an art at best. Both have curled scale tips on the forewing (see structural photos below) and at the wing terminus the crenulations are stronger in fresh E. cirripalea. The reniform can be concolorous, yellowish or white and seems to be slightly larger than in E. sidus. Best determined by barcodes or dissections. Descriptions of Eupsilia are available online at: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/MothTalkDownload/MothTalk010.htm

Adult Structural Features: The male genitalia of our Eupsilia species are very similar. In our preparations the angle of the tip of the valva is similar to that in E. sidus but the juxta is quite different in that it has a distinct neck, broader than in E. tristigmata and the neck is shorter. Furthermore, there is a blister-like dimple in the middle of the juxta which is not found in any other of our Eupsilia. The female bursa has two signa not four and is not sclerotized medially but is otherwise like that of E. sidus with an outpocket from the bursa as in E. tristigmata. The ostial plate is deeply incised distally, rounded proximally with an obvious medial projection.

Genitalia and other structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.

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: Found throughout the Piedmont and Mountain areas in wooded habitats.

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: Adults begin to fly in the fall in October and November. They overwinter as adults and show up again in the spring, flying as late as April.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Wagner et al. (2011) list woodlands, especially those with an abundance of oaks and hickories, as the habitats used by this species. North Carolina records come mainly from upland stands of hardwoods, although there are also a few records from riparian and mesic forests.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae have been reported to eat a wide array of plants but confirmed larvae are known only from blackberry (Rubus), oak (Quercus), cherry (Prunus), and Red Maple (Acer rubrum) (Wagner et al., 2011). Larvae are probably indistinguishable from other members of the genus. Knowledge of foodplants in North Carolina is lacking and in need of study. - View

Observation Methods: Adults readily come to bait and have been collected in light traps.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNR [S3S4]

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

Comments: This species appears to be fairly widespread in both the Mountains and Piedmont of North Carolina, occurring in at least some residential neighborhoods as well as natural habitats. While more surveys need to be conducted in the late fall and early spring to more exactly determine its distribution, abundance, host plants, and habitat affinities, it appears to be fairly secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Eupsilia cirripalea - Franclemont's Sallow

Photos: 16

	Recorded by: Nora Murdock on 2025-11-23 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Nora Murdock on 2025-11-23 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-10-13 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-10-13 Madison Co. Comment: Scales curled; genitalia with juxta consistent with this species.
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-03-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-03-03 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-12-16 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2021-02-24 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-12-28 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-02-27 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-02-03 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2017-03-27 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: T. Nergart on 2015-04-03 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2015-01-25 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2010-03-03 Warren Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2010-03-03 Warren Co. Comment: