Moths of North Carolina

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Anathix ralla (Grote & Robinson, 1868) - Dotted Sallow

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Noctuidae

Subfamily:
Noctuinae

Tribe:
Xylenini

P3 Number:
932619

MONA Number:
9961.00

Comments: A genus of three North American species of which one has been recorded in North Carolina.

Species Status: There is no evidence of genetic heterogeneity in populations of Anathix ralla, including those in North Carolina.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)

Adult Markings: This yellow-orange species is not likely to be confused with any species other than Sunira bicolorago. Their flight periods are different: Anathix preceeds Sunira but there is a week or two overlap in many areas. Look at the course of the postmedian line, which is smoothly arched in Anathix but has a median offset in Sunira. Anathix puta, a more northern species feeding on Aspen, has been taken as far south as West Virginia and should be sought for at high elevations where our aspen grow. It looks similar to A. ralla but is quite a bit darker from a brownish dusting.

Wingspan: 2.6 - 3.5 cm (Covell, 1984)

Adult Structural Features: Genitalia: There are good genetic characters for distinguishing this species from Sunira bicolorago which can be confusingly similar and fly at the same time and place. The uncus of Anathix is deeply bifurcated; that of Sunira is normal. In the female the appendix bursa of S. bicolorago is a separate sac but simply forms the top of the bursa in Anathix and most other species.

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: Larvae appear not have been described but may be similar to those of Anathix puta, which is illustrated and described in Wagner et al. (2011).

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Found in the Mountains and Piedmont but we have no records from the Coastal Plain.

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: Beginning in mid August, this species is frequently seen for about a month. At the end of the flight period it overlaps with Sunira bicolorago.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Most of our records come from upland forests, including from both dry and mesic slopes. A few also come from riparian and lakeshore habitats.

Larval Host Plants: Host plants are apparently unknown which is surprising given the wide distribution and frequency of occurrence. Captive females will probably lay eggs and could be offered a salad of foodplants known to harbor Sunira caterpillars. Larvae may also feed early in the fall and then hibernate before climbing into the canopy to complete development, thus explaining why none have been observed. Other species in this genus have been reported on aspens and poplars (Populus spp.). However, the distribution of A. ralla, in our state at least, does not correspond to concentrations of Populus and some other host plant is likely to be used. - View

Observation Methods: Known to respond well to lights but response to bait is unknown.

Wikipedia

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: While it does not appear to be threatened, until the host plants and habitat associations of this species are clarified, the conservation status of Anathix ralla cannot be accurately determined.

Photo Gallery for Anathix ralla - Dotted Sallow

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

	Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-11-05 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-02 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-07-25 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-11-09 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2023-09-25 Caswell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Avery Young on 2023-09-24 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Avery Young on 2023-09-24 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Avery Young on 2023-09-21 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-19 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-15 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-09-11 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-10 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-10-15 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-10-14 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-08-29 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-14 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-10-11 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-28 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-09-19 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2021-09-14 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-09-13 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-09-13 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-11 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2021-09-11 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2021-09-10 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-09 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-08-25 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-10-04 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-26 Madison Co. Comment: