Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Metaxaglaea Members: 125 NC Records

Metaxaglaea viatica (Grote, 1874) - Roadside Sallow

Metaxaglaea viaticaMetaxaglaea viaticaMetaxaglaea viaticaMetaxaglaea viatica
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Noctuinae		Tribe:
Xylenini		P3 Number:
932598		 MONA Number:
9944.00
Comments: One of five species in this genus that occur in North America, all of which have been recorded in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Schweitzer (1979)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Schweitzer (1979); Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Metaxaglaea viatica, violacea, and semitaria are all medium-large Noctuids with similar wing patterns: dentate postmedian and antemedian lines; large, red-encircled orbicular and reniform spots and a contrastingly dark band between the postmedian and the subterminal lines. Externally, they differ primarily in color, which can be subtle and highly dependent on the lighting conditions. The ground color of viatica is usually a leather brown, with less red/violet than violacea and less yellow/orange than semitaria (see Schweitzer, 1979, for details).
Adult Structural Features: Male genitalia are very similar to those of violacea, both possessing long, thin spines at the apex of the valves; australis and semitaria, in contrast, have short spines. Specimens of viatica often lack dorsal spines on the cucullus of both valves, whereas specimens of violacea usually have a spine on at least one of the valves (see Schweitzer (1979) for illustrations as well as more detailed descriptions, as well as images below).
Genitalia and other structural photos
Immatures and Development: Larvae are dull grayish-brown, similar to those of other Metaxaglaea; see the key to last instar larvae given by Schweitzer (1979) for details concerning their differences.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs statewide, from the Barrier Islands to the High Mountains.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Metaxaglaea viaticaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
Flight Comments: Univoltine, with adults flying primarily in the fall and early winter, but with at least some individuals persisting into January, or even as late as March in the Coastal Plain.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from a variety of habitats, including Maritime Forests, Longleaf Pine Savannas and Sandhills, lakeshores and swamps, and upland ridges.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, probably feeding primarily on members of the Rosaceae, and have been found in the wild on apple (Malus), chokeberry (Aronia), and mountain-ash (Sorbus) (Wagner et al., 2011). In captivity, larvae also accept blueberry (Vaccinium), Red Maple (Acer rubrum), and oak (Quercus), although with variable results and with at least some of these hosts becoming unsuitable as their leaves mature (Schweitzer, 1979). In North Carolina, a larva has been recorded feeding on Winged Elm (Ulmus alata). - View
Observation Methods: Like other Metaxaglaea, this species appears to come well to both blacklights and bait.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Rosaceous Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: With a statewide distribution, association with a number of common host plants and common habitats -- including residential areas -- this species appears to be secure within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Metaxaglaea viatica - Roadside Sallow

 86 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-11-21
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson, S. L. Reeves on 2025-11-21
Orange Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-11-20
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-11-20
Madison Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-11-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-11-18
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Merrill Lynch on 2025-11-18
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Merrill Lynch on 2025-11-18
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-11-15
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-11-05
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Ted Wilcox on 2025-11-04
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Tony McBride, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-10-29
Craven Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-16
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-16
Orange Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-03-04
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: John Petranka and Sally Gewalt on 2025-02-07
Beaufort Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: John Petranka and Sally Gewalt on 2025-02-07
Beaufort Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-01-31
Wake Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-01-30
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-12-28
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-12-06
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-11-25
Wake Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-11-10
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: JIm Petranka on 2024-11-08
Madison Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-11-02
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-24
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-01-30
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-09
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Metaxaglaea viatica
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-01
Wilson Co.
Comment: