Moths of North Carolina
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Epiglaea Members:
18 NC Records

Epiglaea decliva (Grote, 1874) - Sloping Sallow

Epiglaea decliva
view caption 		Epiglaea declivaEpiglaea decliva
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: XyleniniP3 Number: 932602 MONA Number: 9946.00
Comments: This genus contains two species found principally in the Eastern United States and in North Carolina. The two species are not closely related and E. decliva will eventually be moved to another genus.
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina barcode with those from other states and there are no indications of multiple species. It does not barcode near E. apiata but may be closely related to or part of Homoglaea, a Western genus.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-large brown Nocutid, similar in size, color, and pattern to Metaxaglaea species but usually larger and more uniformly leathery-looking. Distinguished by a higher, triangular, knife-edged crest on the thorax (Forbes, 1952); in Metaxaglaea, the thoracic crest is relatively flat or inconspicuous . The orbicular and reniform both have a yellow border in decliva but lack the outer red line found in Metaxaglaea. The postmedian is more strongly incurved at the costa in decliva and the subterminal is usually not darker than the rest of the wing. In decliva, the postmedian is double, with the outer part consisting of a chain of dots or wedges; in E. apiata, the postmedian is single, dark, and continuous.
Adult Structural Features: The male genitalia are quite different from other eastern Metaxaglaea and Chaetaglaea species. There is a small clasper, no terminal spine and no corona on the valve. The arrangement of cornuti is totally different from that seen in E. apiata. In the female the ductus has an unsclerotized band not present in E. apiata.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Brown to reddish brown with a dorsal stripe composed of pale spots (see Wagner et al., 2011, for illustrations and a detailed description).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Appears to be restricted to the Piedmont and the Low Mountains, but we have one record from Weymouth Woods State Natural Area, located in Fall-line Sandhills.
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: Univoltine, with our records coming from October and November.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come primarily from dry-mesic upland stands of hardwoods.
Larval Host Plants: Reportedly a general feeder on shrubs and small trees. Wagner et al. (2011) specifically list maple (Acer), buckeye (Aesculus), apple (Malus), cherry (Prunus), oak (Quercus), and Viburnum. We do not have any host records from North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: Adults come to light and should respond to bait but we cannot find any data to support that. Because our Epiglaea are on the wing earlier than most observers begin baiting, the response is largely unknown.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Dry-Mesic Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S4S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Uncommon but widely distributed within various types of hardwood forests; probably secure within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Epiglaea decliva - Sloping Sallow

Photos: 9

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-12-10
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-11-02
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-11-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-12-09
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2019-11-23
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2017-10-14
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 1992-11-11
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 1992-11-11
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 1992-10-26
Orange Co.
Comment: