Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Noctuidae Members:	Sunira Members:	319 NC Records

Sunira bicolorago (Guenée, 1852) - Bicolored Sallow

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Noctuidae

Subfamily:
Noctuinae

Tribe:
Xylenini

P3 Number:
932616

MONA Number:
9957.00

Other Common Name:
Shield-backed Cutworm

Comments: A genus of three North American species, one of which has been taken in North Carolina. There are scattered eastern records for S. verberata, a western species, which resembles S. bicolorago but has a pronounced, darkened reniform spot.

Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded and match those from the broad geographic range of this species. There is no evidence of sibling species.

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 (2005); Wagner et al. (2011)

Adult Markings: Adults are usually easy to recognize by color, size and time of flight. However, the species can be quite variable and its flight period overlaps briefly with Anathix ralla, which is similar in size and coloration (see photo). The yellow-orange color of the adult perfectly matches many fall leaf colors providing excellent camouflage. Carefully mark the course of the postmedian line which is evenly curved in A. ralla but interrupted and represented as a series on black spots in this species. In addition, the subterminal line of S. bicolorago is well-defined, with pale coloration that is bordered inwardly by darker shading. In contrast, the subterminal line of A. ralla is represented as a series of dots. The overlap period is fairly brief, as A. ralla begins to fly about a month earlier. When they do overlap, identification can sometimes be challenging, particularly for worn specimens.

Adult Structural Features: The genitalia provide excellent characters separating Sunira from Anathix. In the male, the uncus is deeply divided in Anathix but not in Sunira. In the female of Sunira, the appendix bursae is a separate sac but not so in Anathix, which has the usual orientation.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The gray-green cutworm-like caterpillar is fairly distinct with large blackish shovel head-like chevrons on the dorsal side.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Found across the state, from the High Mountains to the Barrier Islands.

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: Sunira is the moth symbol of the approaching winter. Begins to fly in August in the Mountains and September over the rest of the state. Continues to fly in the Coastal Plain well into December.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come primarily from hardwood-dominated forests, ranging from floodplains and lakeshores, to mesic slopes and dry summits. Almost none come from Longleaf Pine habitats, except where located close to floodplains or in areas where fire-suppression has allowed hardwoods to move in. None of our records come from Peatland habitats but there are at least a few from Maritime habitats.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, with reported hosts including maple (Acer), poplar (Populus), cherry (Prunus), oak (Quercus), willow (Salix), and elm (Ulmus) (Wagner et al., 2011). Red Maple (Acer rubrum) seems to be a favorite - in the early spring look for young larvae on emerging Red Maple buds. Older larvae are very difficult to locate and are known to feed on dead leaves. In North Carolina, a caterpillar was recorded feeding on White Ash (Fraxinus americana). - View

Observation Methods: Adults swarm to bait and are also attracted to light.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]

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

Comments: This species is widespread in North Carolina, occupies an extensive range of habitats, and feeds on common and/or ubiquitous host plants; it appears to be quite secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Sunira bicolorago - Bicolored Sallow

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

	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-12-18 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-11-25 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-19 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-07 Madison Co. Comment: Appears to be a dark morph of this species.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-06 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-11-05 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-11-01 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-11-01 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-10-25 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-25 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-10-25 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-10-22 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-22 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-12 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-09-15 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-12 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-12 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-03-28 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-03-28 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-29 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-26 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-25 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-10 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-09 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-09 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-04 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-02 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-12-01 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-24 Brunswick Co. Comment: