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

Sutyna privata (Walker, 1857) - Private Sallow

Sutyna privata
view caption 		Sutyna privataSutyna privata
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Noctuinae		Tribe:
Xylenini		P3 Number:
932707		 MONA Number:
9989.00		 Other Common Name:
Checkered Sallow
Comments: A New World genus of 3 species of which one is found in the United States and in North Carolina. The other two are from South America and may not be closely related to our species. Several North American forms of privata that were previously treated as separate species -- teltowa, profunda, and tenuilinea (see Forbes, 1954; Hodges et al., 1984) -- are now considered to be just forms of privata (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010).
Species Status: Although no specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded, one from Florida is very similar to those from across Canada and it is unlikely that significant heterogeneity exists.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954), as Antytus privatusTechnical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This large, bluish-black, fall-flying Noctuid is likely to be confused only with Xylotype capax, which is similar in size, color, and pattern and whose flight period overlaps. Our populations of privata (matching Forbes' description of teltowa) are much darker, however, and are smoother in appearance. They also lack the dark anal dash found in capax and the well-defined, white subterminal line, but show more contrast between the pale grayish area located before the subterminal and the mainly dark terminal area; in capax these areas are primarily concolorous. Sexes are similar.
Adult Structural Features: In the male, the valves are very blunt and the aedeagus tip is heavily sclerotized and has several spines. In the female, the bursa has 4 ribbon-like signa similar to those found in Metaxaglaea. These characters should separate this species from anything likely to be confused with it.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: As illustrated in Wagner et al. (2011), larvae are green or brown, with fine lines on the upper surface and a broad, pale spiracular line bordered by a narrow, dark stripe above.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found throughout the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Sutyna privataAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: Apparently on the wing for about two weeks in September and October.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of our records come from the Coastal Plain, primarily from Longleaf Pine sandhills and flatwoods habitats, as well as dry stands of hardwoods. Blackberry is not common in most of these habitats but Blueberries and Huckleberries are frequent. Our few records from the Piedmont also come from fairly dry woodlands, including a stand of Piedmont Longleaf Pine Forest, where Blueberries again are common.
Larval Host Plants: Although this species may be a general feeder, caterpillars have been found only on blackberry (Rubus) and blueberry (Vaccinium) (Wagner et al., 2011; Sullivan, pers. obs.). - View
Observation Methods: Comes to light but response to bait unknown. Its flight period in early September is when few people put out bait for moths.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Dry Heath 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: Most of our records come from fairly open habitats where Blueberries are common. Old Field and other disturbed habitats where Blackberries are common have not been as well-sampled, however, and their use by this species needs to be checked before its conservation status can be determined.

 Photo Gallery for Sutyna privata - Private Sallow

Photos: 7
Sutyna privata
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-09-22
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Sutyna privata
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-09-22
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Sutyna privata
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-09-22
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Sutyna privata
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-23
Durham Co.
Comment:
Sutyna privata
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-23
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Sutyna privata
Recorded by: Jennifer Smith on 2019-09-17
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Sutyna privata
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2019-09-17
Cumberland Co.
Comment: