Himella fidelis Grote Faithful Quaker, 1874

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, The Hadeninae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA 2380, Zootaxa 2380 (1), pp. 1-75 : 14-15

4. Himella fidelis Grote Faithful Quaker

( Figs. 6–8 , Map 5)

Identification: Forewing length 13–16 mm. Forewing is reddish-brown with a few specimens being gray. Antemedial and postmedial lines faint, cream-colored and bordered on both sides by darker scales. Orbicular and reniform spots ground color and outlined with a thin line of cream-colored scales. A small black spot at base of wing; a small black spot contiguous with the antemedial line below the orbicular spot and a small black spot contiguous with the postmedial line below the reniform spot can be present or absent. Hindwing pale gray to gray becoming darker toward outer margin.

Flight period: Mid-April.

Collected localities: North Carolina : Haywood Co., Purchase Knob, Purchase Knob NW of house. (3 specimens)

Elevation range: 4911–4924 ft. (1497–1501 m)

General distribution: An eastern species ranging from Maine to Florida and west to Michigan, Illinois, and Texas.

Larval hosts: A polyphagous species of many trees and woody shrubs. Host plants include apple ( Malus sp. , Rosaceae ), cherry ( Prunus sp. , Rosaceae ), blackberry ( Rubus sp. , Rosaceae ), blueberry ( Vaccinium sp. , Ericaceae ), elm ( Ulmus sp. , Ulmaceae ), hickory ( Carya sp. , Juglandaceae ), hophornbeam ( Ostrya sp. , Betulaceae ), oak ( Quercus sp. , Fagaceae ), viburnum (Viburnum sp., Caprifoliaceae ), witchhazel ( Hamamelis sp. , Hamamelidaceae ) ( Wagner 2005).

MAP 5. Collecting localities of Himella fidelis .

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.