Noctuidae

Sutyna privata No common name

10 9 8 n=0 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: 11 • • 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 15 - Stokes - 1996-09-10 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 4 - Brunswick - 1995-09-21 g 2 Status Rank h 1 3 - Brunswick - 1994-09-20 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=3 8 n=24 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: Noctuinae TRIBE: TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: A New World of 3 species of which one is found in the United States and in North Carolina. The other two are from South America and may not be closely related to our species. Several North American forms of privata that were previously treated as separate species -- teltowa, profunda, and tenuilinea (see Forbes, 1954; Hodges et al., 1984) -- are now considered to be just forms of privata (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010).

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1954), as Antytus privatus TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Wagner et al. (2011)

ID COMMENTS: This large, bluish-black, fall-flying Noctuid is likely to be confused only with , which is similar in size, color, and pattern and whose flight period overlaps. Our populations of privata (matching Forbes' description of teltowa) are much darker, however, and are smoother in appearance. They also lack the dark anal dash found in capax and the well-defined, white subterminal line, but show more contrast between the pale grayish area located before the subterminal and the mainly dark terminal area; in capax these areas are primarily concolorous. Sexes are similar.

DISTRIBUTION: Found throughout the Piedmont and Coastal Plain

FLIGHT COMMENT: Apparently on the wing for about two weeks in September and October

HABITAT: Most of our records come from the Coastal Plain, primarily from Longleaf Pine sandhills and flatwoods habitats, as well as dry stands of hardwoods. Blackberry is not common in most of these habitats but Blueberries and Huckleberries are frequent. Our few records from the Piedmont also come from fairly dry woodlands, including a stand of Piedmont Longleaf Pine Forest, where Blueberries again are common.

FOOD: Although this species may be a general feeder, caterpillars have been found only on Blackberry (Rubus sp.) and Blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) (Wagner et al., 2011; Sullivan, pers. obs.).

OBSERVATION_METHODS: Comes to light but response to bait unknown. Its flight period in early September is when few people put out bait for .

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G5 [S3S4]

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

COMMENTS: Most of our records come from fairly open habitats where Blueberries are common. Old Field and other disturbed habitats where Blackberries are common have not been as well-sampled, however, and their use by this species needs to be checked before its conservation status can be determined.

March 2021 The Moths of North Carolina - Early Draft 1