Moths of North Carolina
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809 NC Records

Idia aemula Hübner, 1814 - Common Idia Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: HerminiinaeP3 Number: 930471.00 MONA Number: 8323.00
Comments: One of eighteen species recorded in North America (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010), twelve of which are found in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954); Rings et al. (1992)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A moderately small deltoid, similar in size to Idia americalis but more evenly shaded with smoky to yellowish-gray and not paler towards the base or along the costa. Lines are darker but not as heavy as in americalis. Both the orbicular and reniform are usually contrastingly pale yellow, although in some individuals the spots can be blackish and much darker than the ground color. The terminal line is broken into a series of spots, unlike the continuous line found in americalis (Forbes, 1954). Aemula is similar in pattern and forewing color to Idia "concisa" but has a more fuscous hindwing that is nearly concolorous with the forewing (Forbes, 1954). The median band of the forewing is also usually more diffuse in aemula than in "concisa" (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010).
Adult Structural Features: Like americalis and "concisa", aemula has relatively short palps, not reaching the vertex (Forbes' subgenus Epizeuxis). The third segment is blunt and blade-like with rough hair on the upper surface (Forbes, 1954).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This one of our most ubiquitous species, occurring virtually all habitats found across the state.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are probably generalized detritivores, feeding on dead leaves, fungi, and other organic matter (Forbes, 1954; Wagner et al., 2011). Some individuals have been found in squirrel nests, abandoned hornet nests, and in earthball fungi (Wagner et al., 2011).
Observation Methods: Comes well to both blacklights and bait. Larvae have apparently not been observed in the wild (Wagner, et al., 2011), despite their abundance.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Fields
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:

 Photo Gallery for Idia aemula - Common Idia Moth

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

Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-11-07
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-11-05
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2022-10-29
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-10-24
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-10-15
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-10-12
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-10-05
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-21
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-09-20
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-06
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-08-24
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-24
Clay Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-08-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-08-14
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-14
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-09
Watauga Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-08-05
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-08-05
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-26
Greene Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-25
Greene Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Lior Carlson, Becky Watkins, Richard Teper, Stephen Dunn on 2022-07-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-19
Chowan Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-18
Chowan Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson, Stephen Dunn on 2022-07-15
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-11
Alamance Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-04
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-26
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-24
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-24
Guilford Co.
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