Achatia distincta (Hübner) Distinct Quaker

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, The Hadeninae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA 2380, Zootaxa 2380 (1), pp. 1-75 : 12-13

1. Achatia distincta (Hübner) Distinct Quaker

( Fig. 1 , Map 2)

Identification: Forewing length 13–17 mm. A distinct, black transverse bar runs across the frons at the dorsal eye margin. The general coloration of the forewing is gray with a white basal area speckled with pale gray and black scales. The orbicular and reniform spots are large, filled with white and gray scales, and thinly outlined with black. Between the basal area and orbicular spot is a dark gray angulate patch that is thinly outlined and divided into four sections by black scales. Hindwing is pale gray with a dark gray marginal border.

Flight period: Late April to June.

Collected localities: North Carolina : Haywood Co., Purchase Knob, Purchase Knob house, Purchase Knob NW of house; Swain Co., Beetree Ridge, Big Cove Road site b, Big Cove Road site c . Tennessee: Blount Co., Tremont; Cocke Co. , Cosby Creek Cosby House. (22 specimens)

Elevation range: 2080–4924 ft. (634–1501 m)

General distribution: A widespread eastern species from Manitoba, Canada; and in the U.S. from New Hampshire south to Florida, throughout the Midwest from Ohio and Kentucky west to North Dakota and south to Texas and west to Colorado.

MAP 2. Collecting localities of Achatia distincta .

Larval hosts: Larvae feed on forest trees including linden ( Tilia sp. , Tiliaceae ), walnut ( Juglans sp. , Juglandaceae ) ( Crumb 1956), European white birch ( Betula pendula Roth , Betulaceae ), butternut ( Juglans cinerea L., Juglandaceae ), white ash ( Fraxinus americana L., Oleaceae ), white oak ( Quercus alba L., Fagaceae ), bur oak ( Q. macrocarpa Michx. , Fagaceae ) ( Prentice 1962), and maple ( Acer sp. , Aceraceae ) (Kimball 1965). The larva is illustrated in Wagner (2005).

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Adults. 1, Achatia distincta, f, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Seneca, Sycamore Landing, 21 Apr. 1979, D.C. Ferguson; 2, Crocigrapha normani, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 17 Apr. 1976, D.C. Ferguson; 3, Crocigrapha normani, f, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 17 Apr. 1976, D.C. Ferguson; 4, Egira alternans, m, North Carolina, Haywood Co., Cataloochee, just off paved road to Cosbey, 2600 ft., 18 May 2005, M.G. Pogue, USN- MENT 00254451; 5, Egira alternans, m, North Carolina, Haywood Co., Cataloochee, just off paved road to Cosbey, 2600 ft., 18 May 2005, M.G. Pogue, USNMENT 00254466; 6, Himella fidelis, f, South Carolina, Charleston Co., McClellanville, Wedge Plantation, 19 Mar. 1968, D.C. Ferguson; 7, Himella fidelis, m, Texas, Anderson Co., Tennessee Colony, 14 Mar. 1966, A. & M.E. Blanchard; 8, Himella fidelis, m, New York, Tompkins Co., Ithaca, Forest Home, Golf Course Woods, 21 Feb. 1962, D.C. Ferguson.