Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFErebidae Members:
Cycnia Members:
165 NC Records

Cycnia tenera Hübner, 1818 - Delicate Cycnia

Cycnia teneraCycnia teneraCycnia teneraCycnia tenera
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Erebidae		Subfamily:
Arctiinae		Tribe:
Arctiini		P3 Number:
930404		 MONA Number:
8230.00		 Other Common Name:
Dogbane Tiger Moth
Comments: This is one of three species in this genus that occur in North America, all of which have been recorded in North Carolina. Cycnia inopinatus is a previously described species that has been recorded from North Carolina, but was synonymized with C. collaris based on comparison of genitalic structures and DNA barcode variation (Pohl and Nanz, 2023).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1960); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Fore-wings are white and somewhat transclucent; head, thorax, and the costa of the forewing are deep yellow. Similar to Cycnia inopinatus but is larger, usually a purer white, and has the yellow costal stripe reaching well beyond the mid-point, often nearly to the apex of the forewing; legs are bicolored, unlike the solid lead gray in inopinatus. Most specimens should be easily distinguishable based on a good quality photograph.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are covered with long, soft gray hair (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs statewide.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Cycnia tenera
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: Wagner (2005) states that there are two to three generations per year; our data appear to show three peaks but with adults present essentially throughout the growing season.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Found in a wide variety of open habitats, including old field and road edges, where Dogbane is often abundant.
Larval Host Plants: Feeds on dogbane, and is possibly monophagous on Hemp Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum). Records for milkweed require confirmation. - View
Observation Methods: Comes moderately well to blacklights and is often observed during the day, especially near patches of Dogbane. None of our records come from bait.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Open Apocynaceous Forblands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Common, widespread, and uses a wide variety of habitats, including early successional and disturbed areas; appears to be quite secure.

 Photo Gallery for Cycnia tenera - Delicate Cycnia

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

Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-12
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-06
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-30
Orange Co.
Comment: On Apocynum sp. in our yard.		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-03
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-08
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-07-03
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-28
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-09-10
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-07
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-09-05
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-08-10
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-07-25
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-24
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-07-18
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-07-16
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-07
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-24
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-06
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-22
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-18
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-09-05
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-08-30
Orange Co.
Comment: