Moths of North Carolina

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Hypoprepia fucosa Hübner, [1831] - Painted Lichen Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Arctiinae

Tribe:
Lithosiini

P3 Number:
930205

MONA Number:
8090.00

Comments: One of four members of this genus in North America, two of which occur in North Carolina. Some populations of both fucosa and miniata show strong departures in size and coloration from the typical patterns and may represent undescribed species (Wagner, 2005).

Identification

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

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1960); Wagner (2005)

Adult Markings: Tricolored, with bands of red, yellow, and slate gray bands on the forewings; the head is also usually yellowish, the thorax red with a central spot of gray, and the abdomen mostly gray; hindwings are usually pale pink with an outward border of gray. Smaller but similar in pattern to H. miniata, which is usually more strongly bicolored with scarlet and gray. Sizes and coloration of both species can vary, however, with some specimens having the tricolored pattern of fucosa as large as typical miniata. Fucosa usually has a narrower gray margin on the hindwings and miniata usually lacks the dark central spot on the thorax; the abdomen of miniata is also usually red (Forbes, 1960).

Wingspan: 25-35 mm (Forbes, 1960)

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

Immatures and Development: Larvae are mottled yellow on black, with strong black spines; the amount of yellow is usually reduced in fucosa compared to miniata (Wagner, 2005).

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Occurs statewide

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: Has two distinct flights in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain but only a single, mid-season flight in the Mountains, situated between the two flights in the eastern part of the state

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Has one of the broadest range of habitats of any moth in the state. It is common to abundant in maritime forests and scrub, Coastal Fringe Sandhills, Longleaf Pine savannas and flatwoods, peatlands, riparian forests, mesic- and dry-to-xeric upland hardwoods.

Larval Host Plants: Hosts are poorly documented, but like most Lithosiines, it probably feeds on lichens, bark algae, and cyanobacteria. - View

Observation Methods: Comes abundantly to blacklights but none of our records come from bait.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General 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 is one of our most abundant and ubiquitous species, occurring in most forested and wooded habitats across the state. It appears to be quite secure.

Photo Gallery for Hypoprepia fucosa - Painted Lichen Moth

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

	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-09-04 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-09-03 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-31 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-30 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-08-29 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-08-29 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-08-28 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-21 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-12 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-06 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-14 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-14 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-06-21 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-12 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-06 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-05 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-03 Currituck Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-29 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment: