Orthosia rubescens (Walker) Ruby Quaker

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, The Hadeninae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA 2380, Zootaxa 2380 (1), pp. 1-75 : 22-23

13. Orthosia rubescens (Walker) Ruby Quaker

( Figs. 26–28 , Map 14)

Identification: Forewing length 15–18 mm. Male with bipectinate antenna with long pectinations, female antenna is filiform. Forewing color is variable from reddish brown to dark reddish brown. The antemedial and postmedial lines are virtually absent. Usually lighter colored specimens may have a few black dots that make up these lines. The orbicular and reniform spots are usually prominent, especially on darker specimens. The orbicular spot is cream colored with some reddish-brown scales in center and the reniform is reddish brown with gray scales in the ventral half and is ringed with cream colored scales. Hindwing is variable from dirty white suffused with gray scales to gray and the fringe is dirty white to cream colored.

Flight period: Mid-March to April.

MAP 14. Collecting localities of Orthosia rubescens .

Collected localities: North Carolina : Haywood Co., Purchase Knob; Swain Co., Beetree Ridge, Big Cove Road site b, Big Cove Road site p . Tennessee: Blount Co., Abrams Falls parking area; Sevier Co. , Park Headquarters. (12 specimens)

Elevation range: 1160–4924 ft. (354–1501m)

General distribution: An eastern species that is distributed from Nova Scotia to Ontario in Canada, and from Maine south to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and west to Wisconsin and Missouri .

Larval hosts: A general feeder on both deciduous and coniferous trees and woody shrubs including beech ( Fagus sp. , Fagaceae ), birch ( Betula sp. , Betulaceae ), blueberry ( Vaccinium sp. , Ericaceae ), cherry ( Prunus sp. , Rosaceae ), chestnut ( Castanea sp. , Fagaceae ), elderberry ( Sambucus sp. , Caprifoliaceae ), gooseberry ( Ribes sp. , Grossulariaceae ), greenbrier ( Smilax sp. , Smilacaceae ), hemlock ( Tsuga sp. , Pinaceae ), holly ( Ilex sp. , Aquifoliaceae ), hophornbeam ( Ostrya sp. , Betulaceae ), maple ( Acer sp. , Aceraceae ), oak ( Quercus sp. , Fagaceae ), and viburnum (Viburnum sp., Caprifoliaceae ); sometimes found on forbs and other low-growing plants ( Wagner 2005). The larva is illustrated in Wagner (2005).

Figures

FIGURES 25–32. Adults. 25, Orthosia revicta, m, New York, Tompkins Co., Ringwood Reserve near Dryden, 2 May 1965, D.C. Ferguson. 26, Orthosia rubescens, m, Connecticut, New Haven Co., Bethany, 13 Apr. 1968, D.C. Ferguson; 27, Orthosia rubescens, m, New York, Long Island, 11 Apr. 1901; 28, Orthosia rubescens, m, Connecticut, New Haven Co., Bethany, 13 Apr. 1968, D.C. Ferguson; 29, Nephelodes minians, m, Tennessee, Cocke Co., Foothills Parkway, second overlook East, 1800 ft., 21 Sep. 2001, D.R. Davis, USNMENT 00153373; 30, Dargida diffusa, m, New Mexico, Union Co., Clayton, 5.3 mi NW of Hwy. 87 on 370, 5214 ft., 23 Aug. 2004, M.G. Pogue; 31, Dargida diffusa, m, Colorado, Fremont Co., Coaldale, Hayden Creek, 6800 ft., 9 July 1982, D.C. Ferguson; 32, Hadena ectypa, f, Illinois, Cook Co., Chicago, 10 July 1927.