Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
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View PDFNotodontidae Members:
Heterocampa Members:
301 NC Records

Heterocampa umbrata Walker, 1855 - White-blotched Heterocampa

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NotodontidaeSubfamily: HeterocampinaeP3 Number: 930082.00 MONA Number: 7990.00
Comments: Heterocampa umbrata was recently split into two species by Miller et al. (2021) based on differences in genitalia and larval characters, with populations in Florida and southern Georgia being recognized as a separate species (H. umbrata, sensu stricto) from the remaining populations in eastern North America (H. pulverea). However, our barcoding analyses for specimens from throughout the range do not support the view that the Florida and southern Georgia populations constitute a separate evolutionary lineage that merits recognition as a separate species. Specimens from this region are very similar genetically to those from areas outside of Florida and southern Georgia and are nested among other populations of H. pulverea (sensu Miller et al., 2021). Here, we continue to treat these two forms as a single species (H. umbrata) until additional studies are conducted on genetic and morphological variation in the species, particularly in the contact zone of the these forms in southern Georgia and vicinity.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
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
Immature 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 from virtually all types of oak-containing habitats across the state, from maritime forests to high elevation hardwoods.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on oaks (Wagner, 2005) - View
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 Heterocampa umbrata - White-blotched Heterocampa

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

Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-09-16
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-05
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04
Orange Co.
Comment: feeding on Willow Oak
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-08-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-08-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-18
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-08-18
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-23
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-07-16
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-02
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-21
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2022-09-12
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2022-09-12
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-08-12
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-09
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-07-03
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-06-21
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-29
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: April Key on 2021-09-11
Caldwell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2021-08-17
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-06-13
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-06-04
Wake Co.
Comment: