Noctuidae

Abrostola ovalis Oval

10 9 8 n=1 • 7 High Mt. 6 N 5 u 4 3 • m 2 • • b 1 • e 0 r 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 • 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 NC counties: 6 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec o 10 f 9 n=8 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: in NC since 2001 F 6 l 5 3 - Haywood - 2003-08-01 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 1 - Ashe - 2000-06-04 g 2 Status Rank h 1 1 - Macon - 1999-06-04 0 NC US NC Global t 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 D Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec a 10 10 9 9 t 8 n=0 8 n=0 e 7 Pd 7 CP s 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Three periods to each month: 1-10 / 11-20 / 21-31 FAMILY: SUBFAMILY: TRIBE: TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: One of four species in this that occur in North American north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Poole, 1991), two of which have been recorded in North Carolina.

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: MPG, BugGuide, BAMONA, BOLD TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1954); Lafontaine and Poole (1991) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Forbes (1954); Lafontaine and Poole (1991); Wagner et al. (2011)

ID COMMENTS: A medium-small Looper with a distinctive buff-colored, strongly ovate patch at the base of the otherwise dark forewings; hindwings are grayish brown, lighter at the base, and bordered by a pale fringe. Members of this genus have the antemedian, postmedian, and other maculations composed of raised black scales; no silver stigma is present as is usually found in members of this subfamily (Forbes, 1954; Lafontaine and Poole, 1991). The antemedian is strongly arched, projecting out approximately 1/3 of the winglength and fusing with the inner side of the orbicular spot (Forbes, 1954).

DISTRIBUTION: Probably restricted to the mountains

FLIGHT COMMENT: We have records from late May to late August; we do not have enough information, however, to determine whether there are distinct broods

HABITAT: Our records come from stands of mesic hardwoods, including riparian forests, cove forests, and northern hardwoods

FOOD: Stenophagous, feeding on both Stinging Nettles (Urtica sp.) and Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis) (Wagner et al., 2011). In North Carolina, both Urtica gracilis and chamaedryoides are rare. Laportea, on the other hand, is common in both the Mountains and Piedmont and extends into the Coastal Plain within the floodplains of brownwater rivers.

OBSERVATION_METHODS: All of our records were obtained through use of blacklights.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G4 SU

STATE PROTECTION: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

COMMENTS: We have very few records so far for this species. If is actually associated primarily with Urtica rather than Laportea, that could account for its rarity -- both of our native species of Urtica are listed as S1 by the Natural Heritage Program, with few documented populations even in the Mountains. If it does well on Laportea, on the other hand, it should be widespread in the Mountains and potentially present even in the Piedmont. In that case, it may be that it is simply comes poorly to blacklights. Larval searches in large concentrations of Laportea (requiring either a very thick skin or very heavy clothing) may be needed to answer that question.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1