Noctuidae

Azenia obtusa Obtuse Yellow

40 n=0 • • 30 • • • High Mt. • •• • N 20 • • u • • • • • m 10 • • • b • • 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: 36 • • Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec • • o 40 • • • f n=11 • = Sighting or Collection 30 • Low Mt. High counts of: • • in NC since 2001 F • = Not seen since 2001 l 20 10 - Stokes - 1997-07-08 • i 10 8 - Cumberland - 2002-06-20 g Status Rank h 6 - Hoke - 2001-06-20 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 40 40 t n=17 n=150 e 30 Pd 30 CP s 20 20

10 10

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: Amphipyrinae TRIBE: Stiriini TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: A New World genus of some 8-10 species of which most are from the Southwestern US, one from Argentina and one from the eastern US. Several of these species may be misplaced. A single species occurs in North Carolina. The genus is recognized largely by the prominent frontal tubercle.

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Covell (1984; as Stiriodes obtusa); Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1954) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES:

ID COMMENTS: Adults easily distinguished by their yellow pattern from every other species in our fauna. Marimatha nigrofimbria also has a tubercle (differently shaped) and is yellow but the pattern is quite different. Sexes are similar.

DISTRIBUTION: Found throughout the state except in the high mountains.

FLIGHT COMMENT: The flight period is from May through September in the Coastal Plain but it is unclear as to whether there are two broods or one protracted one. The main flight period is May-June with specimen records dribbling in over the later summer months.

HABITAT: We have records from a wide variety of open to semi-open habitats, with maritime dunes being the major exception. In the Coastal Plain, where most of our records are from, it occurs commonly in Longleaf Pine habitats, with at least a few records coming from marsh edges, peatlands, and floodplain forests. In the Piedmont, it has been found in mafic glades and woodlands, on the dry, semi-open slopes of the monadnocks, and along lakeshores and old fields. In the Mountains, it has been recorded in cove forests, but near roads or ranger stations where disturbed vegetation is present.

FOOD: Although we were unable to find any published information on the host plants used by Azenia, George Smiley posted two pictures on BugGuide (BugGuide, 2016; see http://bugguide.net/node/view/71914/bgimage), taken in July, 2014 in Texas, of larvae found feeding on Dodder (Cuscuta sp.). Some of them subsequently pupated underground and emerged as adult Azenia.

OBSERVATION_METHODS: Adults come to light readily but we can find no evidence that they respond to bait or visit flowers.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G5 [S5]

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

COMMENTS: Even though we are unsure about its host plants, Azenia has a nearly statewide distribution, occupies a wide range of habitats, including disturbed areas, and appears to be fairly common throughout; it, thus, appears to be quite secure within the state.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1