Noctuidae

Properigea costa complex Barrens

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: 1 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec o 10 f 9 n=1 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: in NC since 2001 F 6 l 5 2 - Rutherford - 2013-05-13 4 i 3 g 2 Status Rank h 1 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: Noctuinae TRIBE: TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: This North American contains some 10 described species, 2 of which reach North Carolina.

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: ONLINE PHOTOS: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Barnes and Benjamin (1923; description of Properigea (=Namangana) costa based on Arizona specimens) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES:

ID COMMENTS: The species looks like a small Sideridis species, the forewing is very dark with a broad, white anal streak. Nothing else in our fauna looks like this.

DISTRIBUTION: Our sole record comes from the Blue Ridge escarpment.

FLIGHT COMMENT: Appear to have two broods, late April-May and then again in August.

HABITAT: Our one record for this species was taken from on top of a rocky outcrop, which is consistent with the barrens habitat reported for this species complex. If, however, it feeds on Polypodium virginianum, then it may actually prefer moister rock outcrops located in less-well insolated sites.

FOOD: Unrecorded but western species in this genus feed on ferns (Lafontaine, pers. comm. to JBS, based on information from T. McCabe). Lafontaine also suspects that Polypodium vulgare may be used in Canada. Although we do not have that species, Sullivan noted the presence of Polypodium virginianum growing on rocks near where his specimens were collected.

OBSERVATION_METHODS: Known only from light trap studies. Response to bait (possible) and flowers (unlikely) unknown. A search for caterpillars at other times of the growing season should be productive.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: [GNR S1S3]

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

COMMENTS: We currently have only one record for this species, which appears to be a fairly uncommon to rare habitat specialist over most of its range. More surveys are needed to determine its distribution, abundance, host plants, and habitat associations in North Carolina.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1