Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Chaetaglaea Members: 29 NC Records

Chaetaglaea rhonda Stead and Troubridge, 2015 - Eastern Trembling Sallow

Chaetaglaea rhondaChaetaglaea rhonda
view caption 		Chaetaglaea rhonda
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Noctuinae		Tribe:
Xylenini		P3 Number:
932606.1		 MONA Number:
9949.10		 MONA Synonym:
Chaetaglaea tremula
Comments: Currently this genus of 5 species is wholly North American and three of the species are found in North Carolina. The genus is quite similar to other "glaeas" and distinguished largely by features of the male valve and aedeagus.
Species Status: Barcoding revealed that specimens of Chaetaglaea tremula found from Texas along the Gulf Coast into Florida are different from those that occur from the Carolinas north into Canada. The species found in our area has now been described by Stead and Troubridge (2015) as Chaetaglaea rhonda.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Not in either field guide (Covell, 1984, describes tremula but does not illustrate it)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Stead and Troubridge (2015)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011 -- the description given for tremula is based at least partly on specimens that actually represent rhonda)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The species is best recognized by its large size and lack of distinct patterning. It comes in a variety of color forms, reddish and gray being the most common. The cross lines are visible but the patterning around the orbicular and reniform spots is very weak. The spot in the reniform is usually visible, however, and contrastingly dark. Sexes are similar.
Adult Structural Features: Both male and female genitalia are distinct but distinguishing them from C. tremula is difficult. However, they are readily discernable from the other two species of this genus found in our area, Note the outer half of the valva looks as though a bite has been removed and along the costal side is a serrated ridge. In the female the ductus bursae is sclerotized but more heavily anteriorly and with an unsclerotized band in the middle.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Undescribed but probably much of the description given by Wagner et al. (2011) actually applies to rhonda. Larvae are pinkish or brownish with a broad, pale spiracular stripe. The larvae of sericea are similar and Wagner et al. recommend that larvae be reared to maturity in order to identify them.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Most of our records come from the Coastal Plain but it extends across the Piedmont to the foothills of the mountains. It may be restricted to dry barren areas in the Piedmont.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Chaetaglaea rhonda
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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