Moths of North Carolina
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Eupsilia Members:
4 NC Records

Eupsilia devia (Grote, 1875) - Lost Sallow


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: XyleniniP3 Number: 932594.00 MONA Number: 9939.00
Comments: A genus of the Northern Hemisphere with some 17 described species, including 8 in North America, with several more about to be described. North Carolina has 6 described and 1 undescribed species, some of which are extremely similar in wing pattern.
Species Status: Specimens from Watauga County are very similar to those from Quebec, Canada and no differentiation of our populations is apparent.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954; descriptions of Eupsilia are available online at http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/MothTalkDownload/MothTalk010.htm)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Adults easily distinguished by their liliac-brown color, with the basal area of the forewings frosted with grey. The transverse lines are pale and even, not dentate as in other species of Eupsilia except for morrisoni. The antemedian is strong and slightly concave. The postmedian is fairly weak and slightly sinuous and followed by a much stronger, nearly straight line that lies about half-way between the postmedian and subterminal lines (Forbes, 1954). The subterminal line, like the postmedian, is usually fairly weak and sinuous. Sexes are similar.
Adult Structural Features: The male genitalia of our Eupsilia species are very similar. There is a subbasal sclerotized rugose ridge with setae just below the costa in E. devia which appears to be absent or reduced in the other species. The proximal edge of the juxta is evenly rounded. The female genitalia are unknown to us at present.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Eupsilia larvae are all similar to one another: variable in color; a narrow spiracular stripe usually the most prominent but with other lines also present; a darkened prothoracic shield, usually with two pale stripes. Wagner et al. (2011) recommend that larvae be reared to adulthood in order to determine the species.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This species is primarily northern, but extends to Georgia in the Southern Appalachians. All of our records come from the Mountains, but the habitats and host plants used by this species are not confined to that region.
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
Flight Comments: Should be active late in the fall before hibernating but collecting dates from Haywood and Watauga counties are February and March.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Wagner et al. (2011) list fields, grasslands, wet meadows, marshes, and open woodlands as habitats used by this species. Our records come from wet-mesic, semi-rural sites in the Mountains.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on Asters and Goldenrods and form shelters by silking together leaves near the terminal shoot (Wagner et al, 2011). - View
Observation Methods: Adults readily come to bait and have been collected in light traps, usually as singleton. The apparent rarity of this species may reflect a reluctance to respond to ultraviolet light.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Montane Wet Meadows
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S1S3
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: We have only a few records for this species, which may be a disjunct from the North. However, habitats and host plants do not appear to be limiting factors and more late and early season sampling needs to be done before its conservation status in North Carolina can be determined. Bait sampling and/or use of Mercury-vapor lighting need to be employed rather than sampling solely through use of 15 Watt blacklights.

 Photo Gallery for Eupsilia devia - Lost Sallow

Photos: 2

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-02-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-02-21
Madison Co.
Comment: