Erebidae

Dasychira atrivenosa No common name

10 9 8 n=0 7 High Mt. • 6 N 5 u 4 3 m 2 b 1 0 • e • 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: 8 • Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec o 10 • • f 9 n=0 • = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: in NC since 2001 F 6 • l 5 3 - Hoke - 2001-05-29 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 2 - Brunswick - 1995-08-10 g 2 Status Rank h 1 2 - Pender - 1995-05-30 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=4 8 n=20 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 16 species in this genus that occur in North America, 10 of which have been recorded in North Carolina.

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: ONLINE PHOTOS: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (1978) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Ferguson (1978) provides a key to the larvae.

ID COMMENTS: Unlike any of our other species of , D. atrivenosa is pale yellowish-brown with no obvious divisions between basal, median, and subterminal areas except for some whitish patches subterminally. The antemedian is diffuse or obscure and the postmedian is also weak although more often present. The veins are prominently overlain by dark streaks, particularly along the Cubitus. Although some forms of D. obliquata also have dark lines atop the veins, they usually also have a thin, pointed bar that is missing in atrivenosa.

DISTRIBUTION: All of our records come from the Coastal Plain

FLIGHT COMMENT: Adults have been recorded throughout the summer and into the early fall. However, we do not have enough information to determine whether there are separate flights or peaks in activity.

HABITAT: All of our records come either from wet hardwood forests or from habitats adjoining such forests. Two were recorded from lakeshore habitats just above the Fall-line in the Piedmont. All of the rest come from the Coastal Plain, mostly from small stream swamp forests in the Outer Coastal Plain or streamhead swamp forests in the Sandhills.

FOOD: Ferguson (1978) successfully reared larvae on Sweetgum, but from larvae obtained ex ovo (from eggs from a wild caught female); host plants used in the wild are apparently unknown. Sweetgum is so common and widespread that if that were a main host plant, it would seem that atrivenosa should likewise be far more ubiquitous. Considering its association with small, blackwater swamp forests in the Coastal Plain, Laurel Oak or Swamp Blackgum -- both essentially restricted to such habitats - seem more likely as host plants.

OBSERVATION_METHODS: Comes at least somewhat well to 15 watt UV blacklights. Adults do not feed and do not come to bait or visit flowers. Larvae should be sought in appropriate habitats to determine their natural host plants.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G4 S3?

STATE PROTECTION: Currently placed on the NHP Watch List. Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

COMMENTS: According to Ferguson (1978), atrivenosa had been considered extremely rare, with only four specimens known to be collected prior to 1964. While more specimens have subsequently been collected -- including a fair number in North Carolina -- it's distribution, abundance, and habitat associations are still poorly known. Until more information is acquired, the conservation status of this species cannot be accurately determined.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1