Erebidae Grammia arge Arge Moth 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: 21 • • Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec • o 10 • f 9 n=15 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: • in NC since 2001 F 6 • l 5 4 - Bladen - 1994-06-03 = Not seen since 2001 4 • i 3 3 - Haywood - 2001-08-17 g 2 Status Rank h 1 3 - Alleghany - 2000-07-30 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=6 8 n=16 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: Erebidae SUBFAMILY: Arctiinae TRIBE: Arctiini TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS: One of 36 species in this genus that occur in North America (Schmidt, 2009), nine of which have been recorded in North Carolina. Included along with G. doris in subgenus Mimarctia, characterized by their completely pale costal cells as well as other features (Schmidt, 2009). FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: MPG, Bugguide, BAMONA TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: Forbes (1960); Schmidt (2009) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES: Forbes (1960); Wagner (2005) ID COMMENTS: A pale, pinkish-cream colored Tiger Moth, with the black markings on the forewings reduced to narrow streaks and wedges. The cream-colored costal cell distinguishes arge from all other Grammia except for doris. Grammia arge and doris are very similar but Schmidt (2009) gives the following features of the forewing as diagnostic of arge: a broader pale band overlying vein C1 and the postmedian bent at an acute angle, meeting the costa obliquely rather than at a right angle or more obtusely as in doris. Schmidt further noted that the pale line along vein A1+2 is partially or entirely fused with the broad cream band running along the inner margin, whereas in doris it runs completely within the long black streak that runs just inward from the marginal pale band (see Schmidt's (= Neoarctia's) comments in iNATURALIST at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15377769#activity_identification_44104834). The hindwings are usually pinkish white in arge but more completely pink, orange, or salmon in doris (Forbes, 1960). However, some of our specimens of arge also have salmon colored hindwings. A more reliable difference is that the black spots on the hindwing are usually smaller in arge than in doris and if larger, then those in the subterminal area are typically split by lines of the pink ground color, particularly along veins C2 and A1+2; in doris the spots are both large and undivided (Schmidt, 2009). DISTRIBUTION: Occurs over most of the state but records are missing from the Outer Banks and other barrier islands and from the High Mountains FLIGHT COMMENT: Two generations exist over most of the East (Wagner, 2005), which appears to be true for both the Piedmont and Coastal Plain in North Carolina. However, there may just be a single flight in the Mountains. HABITAT: Schmidt (2009) states that "Grammia arge is often a common species of dry woodlands, meadows, pastures, and grasslands." Wagner (2005) also lists dunes, sand plains, and waste lots. Our records come from a variety of primarily open areas, including Longleaf Pine sandhills, diabase barrens, and river and lake shorelines. However, we do not have any records from the dune grasslands of barrier islands. FOOD: Members of this genus are highly polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of herbaceous plants, with Dicots possibly preferred (Schmidt, 2009). Brimley (1938) mentions that Chenopodium is used in North Carolina. OBSERVATION_METHODS: Comes to blacklights, but usually just as single individuals. The mouthparts are non-functional (Singer, 2000, cited in Schmidt, 2009), so it does not come to bait. NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: G5 [S4] STATE PROTECTION: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands. COMMENTS: Occurs in a variety of habitats across the state but appears to be fairly sparsely distributed. Probably secure, but more needs to be learned about its distribution and habitat requirements. March 2021 The Moths of North Carolina - Early Draft 1.