Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNolidae Members: 231 NC Records

Meganola minuscula (Zeller, 1872) - Confused Meganola

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NolidaeSubfamily: NolinaeP3 Number: 931121.00 MONA Number: 8983.00
Comments: One of eight described species in this genus that occur in North America, three of which are found in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA                                                                                 
Adult Markings: All three of our Meganola species are relatively small gray moths with similar markings. Compared to Meganola phylla, M. minuscula has a relatively weak spot at the center of the costa and weak shading at the base of the costa, but comparatively stronger lines, with the postmedian double rather than single opposite the cell (Dyar, 1898; Forbes, 1948). Compared to Meganola spodia, M. minuscula is a lighter, whitish or silvery gray without a brown tint, as is particularly evident on the hindwing, which is much darker in spodia. The costal spot on the forewing is also triangular in minuscula rather than rectangular as it is in spodia (Franclemont, 1985).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
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: Our records come primarily from upland stands of Oak-Hickory Forests, ranging from dry to mesic
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on oaks (Wagner et al., 2011)
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests
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 Meganola minuscula - Confused Meganola

Photos: 17

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-05-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-04-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-03-26
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-03-24
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-02
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-02
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2019-06-25
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2019-05-07
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-05-07
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-06
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2018-07-18
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2017-06-24
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall and Ed Corey on 2015-05-16
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2012-05-03
Warren Co.
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Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2006-05-23
Carteret Co.
Comment: