Orthodes majuscula (Herrich-Schäffer) Rustic Quaker

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, The Hadeninae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA 2380, Zootaxa 2380 (1), pp. 1-75 : 49-50

45. Orthodes majuscula (Herrich-Schäffer) Rustic Quaker

( Figs. 83–84 , Map 46)

This species used to go under the name Orthodes crenulata (Butler) , but was recently found to be a synonym of Orthodes majuscula described from Cuba ( Becker 2002). This is a widespread species occurring from North America south to Mexico, Central America, and Brazil.

Identification: Forewing length 13–16 mm. Prothorax with a black spot of hair-like scales between the patagia. Forewing ground color dark gray to brown. Antemedial line is light brown, oblique from costa to posterior margin. Orbicular and reniforms spots are ground color and outlined in light brown. Postmedial line light brown angled toward outer margin from costa to M1 vein then angled proximally to posterior margin. Terminal line a series of triangular spots outlined with light brown between the wing veins. On dark specimens the triangular spots disappear and only the light brown line remains in a zig-zag pattern. Hindwing is brown to dark gray.

This species is easily recognized by the ground color orbicular and reinform spots that are outlined with light brown and the black spot between the patagia directly behind the head.

Flight period: May to October, multiple brooded.

Collected localities: North Carolina : Haywood Co., Balsam Mountain picnic area on Flat Creek Trail, Balsam Mountain Road 6.1 mi north of junction Blue Ridge Parkway on Hemphill Bald Trail , Cataloochee, Cataloochee NW of Palmer Chapel , Cataloochee service road off Cataloochee Road, Mt. Sterling Trail , Piney Mt. , Purchase Knob, Purchase Knob at house, Purchase Knob at lower creek, Purchase Knob NW of house; Swain Co., Big Cove Road site b, Big Cove Road site p, Big Cove Road site w, Forney Creek 0.4 km up trail from lake, Hazel Creek Proctor Cemetery , 0.7 km up creek from mouth of Goldmine Creek , Noland Creek , 0.7 km S. of Payne Cemetery , Tennessee: Blount Co., Cades Cove Abrams Creek, vic. Cades Cove , Campsite 6 Scott Mtn. Trail; Cocke Co. , Cosby picnic area off Gabes Mountain trail, Foothills Parkway , Foothills Parkway 3 rd overlook from Cosby , Foothills Parkway East , Foothills Parkway East 1.3 mi N of 321, Maddron Bald Trail ; Sevier Co. , Greenbrier Ranger Station , Campsite 27 Jake’s Creek Trail , Jake’s Creek Trail below campsite 27, Chimney Tops Trail , Cove Forest pullout on Rt. 441, Greenbrier 2.6 mi from state route 321, Greenbrier area end of Ramsey Cascade Road uphill from parking lot. (43 specimens)

Elevation range: 1620–5265 ft. (494–1605 m)

General distribution: Widespread across North America from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to Alberta in Canada. In the U.S. it is distributed from Maine south to Florida and throughout the Midwest to Colorado, Utah , and Arizona.

Larval hosts: A wide variety of hosts including white heath aster ( Symphyotrichum ericoides (L.) G.L. Nesom var. ericoides , Asteraceae ), jewelweed ( Impatiens capensis Meerb. , Balsaminaceae ), common plantain ( Plantago major L., Plantaginaceae ), tobacco ( Nicotiana sp. , Solanaceae ), and willow ( Salix sp. , Salicaceae ) ( Godfrey 1972). Larvae obtained from eggs were reared on common dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. , Asteraceae ) ( Godfrey 1972).

MAP 46. Collecting localities of Orthodes majuscula .

Figures

FIGURES 81–88. Adults. 81, Lacinipolia renigera, f, North Carolina, Haywood Co., Cataloochee, NW of Palmer Chapel, 2650 ft., 19 May 2005, M.G. Pogue, USNMENT 00254492; 82, Lacinipolia teligera, m, Tennessee, Cocke Co., Foothills Parkway, second overlook East, 1800 ft., 21 Sep. 2000, D. &. M. Davis, USNMENT 00153254; 83, Orthodes majuscula, m, North Carolina, Haywood Co, Balsam Mtn. Rd. 6.1 mi N of Jct. Blue Ridge Parkway, on Hemphill Bald Trail, 5125 ft., 8 Oct. 2003, M.G. Pogue, USNMENT 00219202; 84, Orthodes majuscula, f, Tennessee, Sevier Co., Jake’s Creek Trail, below Campsite #27, 3595 ft., 24 July 2004, M.G. Pogue, USNMENT 00147176; 85, Orthodes cynica, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 6 June 1975, D.C. Ferguson; 86, Orthodes cynica, m, Canada, Nova Scotia, Halifax Co., Halifax Watershed, Bog E of Big Indian Lake, 26 June 1968, D.C. Ferguson; 87, Orthodes cynica, f, New York, Kings Co., Brooklyn, 6 June 1901; 88, Orthodes goodelli, m, North Carolina, Jackson Co., Balsam, 3200 ft., 20 June 1974, D.C. Ferguson.