Noctuidae

Diachrysia balluca Green-patched Looper

10 9 8 n=5 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: 3 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 2 - Haywood - 2003-07-31 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 1 - Haywood - 1997-07-26 g 2 Status Rank h 1 1 - Haywood - 2004-07-22 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: Noctuidae SUBFAMILY: Plusiinae TRIBE: Plusiini TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: One of two species in this genus that occurs in North America (Lafontaine and Poole, 1991), both of which are found in North Carolina. Lafontaine and Poole note that this genus appears to be quite heterogeneneous and that our two species may eventually be placed in separate genera.

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1954); Lafontaine and Poole (1991) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES:

ID COMMENTS: Medium-sized but our largest Looper. The forewings are distinctive in possessing shimmering, metallic green shades in the lower median, subterminal, and upper terminal areas. The remaining areas of the forewing are light brownish gray but may also be somewhat shaded with green or otherwise shiny. No stigma is present.

DISTRIBUTION: Please refer to the dot map.

FLIGHT COMMENT: Please refer to the flight charts.

HABITAT: Our records all come from high elevation sites but details are missing regarding the exact habitats used.

FOOD: Larvae have been recorded on Hops, Giant Hyssop, Raspberry, Wood Nettle, and Aspen (Lafontaine and Poole, 1991; Wagner et al., 2011). Lafontaine and Poole noted that most records come from woody species. Wagner et al. speculated that this species could have a preference for Urticales.

OBSERVATION_METHODS:

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G5 S2S3

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

COMMENTS:

March 2021 The Moths of North Carolina - Early Draft 1