Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Noctuidae Members:	Metaxaglaea Members:	53 NC Records

Metaxaglaea violacea Schweitzer, 1979 - Holly Sallow

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Noctuidae

Subfamily:
Noctuinae

Tribe:
Xylenini

P3 Number:
932601

MONA Number:
9945.20

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: Not in either field guide

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

Technical Description, Adults: Schweitzer (1979)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Schweitzer (1979); Wagner et al. (2011)

Adult Markings: Metaxaglaea semitaria, viatica, and violacea 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. Violacea has a dark red-brown ground color overlain with a violet iridescence (see Schweitzer, 1979, for details).

Adult Structural Features: Male genitalia are very similar to those of viatica, both possessing long, thin spines at the apex of the valves; in contrast, both australis and semitaria have short spines. Specimens of violacea usually have a dorsal spine on the cucullus on at least one of the valves, whereas they may be completely missing (or present) in viatica; see Schweitzer, 1979, for illustrations as well as more detailed descriptions.

Structural photos

Immatures and Development: Larvae of violacea are usually more bluish-gray than the other Metaxaglaea and possess conspicuous black, post-spiracular tubercles (pinnacula) that are not found in the other species (Schweitzer, 1979; Wagner et al., 2011).

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Probably occurs statewide, although we currently do not have any records from the High Mountains.

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
Immature 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: Univoltine, flying from early October to late March in both the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Corresponding to the distribution of American Holly, our records for violacea come from a wide variety of forest habitats, ranging from Maritime Forests to floodplain hardwoods to mountain ridges.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are probably stenophagous on hollies (Ilex spp.). They have been recorded feeding on American Holly (I. opaca) but have also been reared on other evergreen holly species (Wagner et al., 2011). - View

Observation Methods: Like other Metaxaglaea, this species appears to come well to both blacklights and bait.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Holly 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: Although we still have relatively few confirmed records for this species, it appears to occur across the state, following the distribution of its common host plant. It thus seems relatively secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Metaxaglaea violacea - Holly Sallow

43 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-04-16 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-02-09 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2025-01-29 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-11-05 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-03-05 Davidson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-12-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-11-10 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-10-13 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2021-10-11 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2021-10-10 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-03-01 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-02-24 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-10-23 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-10-23 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-10-19 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-10-19 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-03-11 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-02-17 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-02-04 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-01-23 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-01-14 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-12-25 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-12-16 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-03-09 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-02-06 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lori Owenby on 2019-01-03 Catawba Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-11-30 Madison Co. Comment: