Egira alternans (Walker) Alternate Woodling

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, The Hadeninae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA 2380, Zootaxa 2380 (1), pp. 1-75 : 14

3. Egira alternans (Walker) Alternate Woodling

( Figs. 4–5 , Map 4)

Identification: Forewing length 15–18 mm. General forewing coloration is gray. The white antemedial line is slightly sinuate and bordered distally by a thin black line. Orbicular spot is white with gray center, extending below discal cell, and is bordered on either side by thin black lines. Reniform spot is pale gray with ferruginous center and bordered by a thin black line proximally; on fresh specimens there are a few black scales around spot distally. A black bar extends between the antemedial and postmedial lines below the reniform spot in some specimens. Hindwing is white and variably suffused with gray scales, a small gray discal spot is present, and a thin dark gray line along outer margin of wing.

Flight period: April to June.

Collected localities: North Carolina : Haywood Co., Cataloochee just off paved road to Cosby, Cataloochee NW of Palmer Chapel, Purchase Knob , Purchase Knob NW of house; Swain Co., Beetree Ridge , Big Cove Road site b, Big Cove Road site c, Big Cove Road site p, Noland Creek . Tennessee: Blount Co., Cades Cove, Cades Cove Ranger Station , Cades Cove Campground , Tremont GSMI; Cocke Co. , Cosby campground area, Cosby Ranger Station , Cosby Creek Cosby House , Foothills Parkway ; Sevier Co. , Greenbrier Road just above Ranger Station , Ogle Place , Park Headquarters. (59 specimens)

Elevation range: 1360–4924 ft. (415–1501 m)

General distribution: This is an eastern species ranging from Maine to Florida and west to Texas.

Larval hosts: Another forest species feeding on a variety of woody shrubs and trees. Hosts include blueberry ( Vaccinium sp. , Ericaceae ), cherry ( Prunus sp. , Rosaceae ), honeysuckle ( Lonicera sp. , Caprifoliaceae ), horse chestnut ( Aesculus hippocastanum L., Hippocastanaceae ), rhododendron ( Rhododendron sp. , Ericaceae ), silver bells ( Halesia carolina L., Styracaceae ), sourwood ( Oxydendrum arboreum (L.) DC., Ericaceae ), walnut ( Juglans sp. , Juglandaceae ), and willow ( Salix sp. , Salicaceae ) ( Wagner 2005). The larva is illustrated in Wagner (2005).

MAP 4. Collecting localities of Egira alternans .

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.