Metalectra discalis (Grote, 1876) Common Fungus Moth

Pogue, Michael G., 2012, The Aventiinae, Boletobiinae, Eublemminae, Pangraptinae, Phytometrinae, and Scolecocampinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Erebidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U. S. A., Zootaxa 3153, pp. 1-31 : 9

2. Metalectra discalis (Grote, 1876) Common Fungus Moth

( Figs. 2–3 , Map 3)

Identification. Forewing length 10.0–13.0 mm. Metalectra discalis has a dark brown forewing mixed with creamcolored, gray, and reddish-brown scales. Basal and medial areas darker than rest of wing, but this may be less evident in worn specimens. Reniform spot is black and quadrate. Orbicular spot is black and obscure, not present in all specimens. There is a slightly curved row of white spots in the subterminal area. Hind wing has a similar pattern to forewing with a black, rectangular, discal spot; a curved line of small white spots; and a pair of white bars in the anal area. Similar to Metalectra quadrisignata (Walker) , but M. discalis is darker in overall appearance with a wider black medial area that is less distinct than in M. quadrisignata .

Flight period. May to early September.

Collected localities. North Carolina: Swain Co.: Big Cove Rd., site b, site p, site w; Mt. Buckley; 300 feet above lake on Welch Ridge; 0.7 km up creek from mouth of Goldmine Creek; 0.7 km S Payne Cemetery; 0.4 km up trail from lake on Forney Creek; 0.2 km W mouth Hazel Creek. Tennessee: Blount Co.: Ace Gap Trailhead; Foothills Parkway West at E end; Cades Cove Ranger Station; Tremont; Cocke Co.: Foothills Parkway N, 4.5 mi from Rt. 321, 3rd overlook; Foothills Parkway, pull-off between 2nd and 3rd overlook up trail to right; Cosby Ranger Station (20 specimens)

Elevation range. 1001–6560 ft. (305–1999 m)

General distribution. This is an eastern species distributed from Quebec, Canada, south to Florida, and west to Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Larval hosts. Larvae feed on dry fungi ( Covell 1984).

MAP 3. Collecting localities of Metalectra discalis .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 32. Adults. 1, Oruza albocostaliata, m, Maryland, Prince Georges Co., Aquasco, 12 June 1997, J. Glaser; 2, Metalectra discalis, m, Tennessee, Blount Co., Ace Gap Trailhead, GSMNP, 24 July 2000, M. G. Pogue, USNMENT 00154045; 3, Metalectra discalis, m, Maryland, Prince Georges Co., Adelphi, 17 Aug. 1969, D. C. Ferguson; 4, Metalectra quadrisignata, m, North Carolina, Jackson Co., Balsam, 3200 ft., 21 June 1974, D. C. Ferguson; 5, Metalectra quadrisignata, f, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Violette’s Lock, 29 July 1975, D. C. Ferguson; 6, Metalectra richardsi, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 11 Aug. 1980, D. C. Ferguson; 7, Metalectra richardsi, m, South Carolina, Charleston Co., McClellanville, Wedge Plantation; 1 May 1972, D. C. Ferguson; 8, Metalectra tantillus, m, South Carolina, Charleston Co., McClellanville, Wedge Plantation; 23 Apr. 1974, D. C. Ferguson; 9, Metalectra tantillus, m, Florida, Putnam Co., Welaka, University Reserve, 7 Apr. 1971, D. C. Ferguson; 10, Dyspyralis illocata, f, Canada, Nova Scotia, Queens Co., Lake Kajimukujik, 20 July 1957, D. C. Ferguson; 11, Dyspyralis illocata, m, Canada, Nova Scotia, Queens Co., Lake Kajimukujik, 21 July 1957, D. C. Ferguson; 12, Dyspyralis nigellus, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 8 July 1986, D. C. Ferguson; 13, Dyspyralis nigellus, m, Maryland, Baltimore Co., Soldiers Delight, 17 July 1993, J. Glaser; 14, Dyspyralis puncticosta, m, New Hampshire, Winnipesaukee, Long Island, 4 Aug. 1972, E. Jäckh; 15 Dyspyralis puncticosta, f, Arkansas, Washington Co., Devil’s Den State Park, 7 July 1966, R. W. Hodges; 16, Eublemma minima, m, Tennessee, Cocke Co., Foothills Parkway, GSMNP, 17 Sep. 2001, J. Brown, USN- MENT 00152848; 17, Eublemma minima, m, Texas, Cameron Co., Brownsville, 9 Nov. 1969, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 18, Ledaea perditalis, m, Florida, Collier Co., Big Cypress Swamp Preserve, Turner Rd., 1.5 mi US Hwy 41, 18 Mar. 1997, M. G. Pogue; 19, Ledaea perditalis, m, Florida, Putnam Co., Welaka, University of Florida Preserve, 26 Mar. 1987, D. C. Ferguson; 20, Pangrapta decoralis, m, North Carolina, Swain Co., 8.3 mi NE GSMNP ent. on 441, Kephart Prong trail, 2825 ft., 10 June 2003, M. G. Pogue, USNMENT 00155798; 21, Pangrapta decoralis, m, Tennessee, Cocke Co., 2.6 mi from St. Rt. 321, Greenbrier entrance, 1620 ft., 27 July 2007, M. Pogue, D. Adamski, M. Metz, GSMNP 1209; 22, Pangrapta decoralis, f, North Carolina, Swain Co., 13.5 mi NE GSMNP ent. on 441, Thomas Divide trail, 4634 ft., 8 June 2003, M. G. Pogue, USNMENT 00155702; 23, Pangrapta decoralis, f, Tennessee, Sevier Co., Jake’s Creek trail, near Campsite # 27, GSMNP, 22 July 2004, M. G. Pogue, USNMENT 00221776; 24, Pangrapta decoralis, f, Tennessee, Sevier Co., 1.3 mi W of Jct. 441 & Clingmans Dome Rd., Road Prong trail, 5260 ft., 28 July 2003, M. G. Pogue, USNMENT 00156584; 25, Hemeroplanis habitalis, m, Florida, Highlands Co., Lake Placid, Archbold Biological Station, 19 Feb. 1985, D. C. Ferguson; 26, Hemeroplanis habitalis, m, Oklahoma, Murray Co., Arbuckle Mts., 1 km W Turner Falls, 19 – 30 July 1984, Don & Mignon Davis; 27, Hemeroplanis habitalis, m, Florida, Hillsborough Co., Lutz, 10 May 1916; 28, Hemeroplanis obliqualis, m, Oklahoma, Sequoyah Co., Tenkiller Lake, 3 mi W Blackgum, 6 – 9 July 1979, D. & M. Davis; 29, Spargaloma sexpunctata, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 8 Aug. 1984, D. C. Ferguson; 30, Spargaloma sexpunctata, f, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 6 Aug. 1984, D. C. Ferguson; 31, Hyperstrotia pervertens, m, Maryland, Dorchester Co., 3 mi E Hurlock, 17 May 2004, J. Glaser; 32, Hyperstrotia pervertens, f, New York, Erie Co., Sardinia, Richmond Gulf, 25 July 1940, L. R. Rupert.