Melanchra assimilis (Morrison) Black Arches

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, The Hadeninae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA 2380, Zootaxa 2380 (1), pp. 1-75 : 26-27

18. Melanchra assimilis (Morrison) Black Arches

( Fig. 34 , Map 19)

Identification: Forewing length 15–17 mm. This is a dark gray moth with black markings and a white angular spot at the juncture of the outer and posterior margins of the forewings. The black markings include an orbicular spot, claviform spot, an incomplete antemedial line extending from the claviform to posterior margin, forming a short scalloped line, a reniform spot, and a very fine curved, scalloped postmedial line. The subterminal line consists of three obscure white dots bordered by a few black scales in apical half of forewing, a variable amount of white scales (sometimes mostly absent) leading to the angular white spot at the tornus. Hindwing is white with a gray discal spot and a wide gray marginal band that can vary in intensity.

Flight period: Mid-August in the Park.

Collected localities: North Carolina : Haywood Co., Purchase Knob at house. (1 specimen)

Elevation range: 4924 ft. (1501m)

General distribution: This is a boreal species that is distributed across Canada from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and in the United States from Maine south to western Maryland and in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Hayward Co., North Carolina . It is also distributed in the upper Midwest from northern Ohio west to North Dakota.

Larval hosts: This species is a fairly polyphagous, mainly feeding on low forest plants and occasionally invading forest trees as a solitary defoliatior ( Prentice 1962). Hosts include goldenrod ( Solidago sp. , Asteraceae ) ( Goodell 1881); brake fern ( Pteris sp. , Pteridaceae ) ( Dyar 1904); bracken and other low plants ( Forbes 1954); willow ( Salix sp. , Salicaceae ) ( Crumb 1956); buffalo berry ( Shepherdia sp. , Elaeagnaceae ), alder ( Alnus sp. , Betulaceae ), European white birch ( Betula pendula Roth , Betulaceae ), white ash ( Fraxinus americana L., Oleaceae ) ( Prentice 1962); and cinnamon fern ( Osmunda cinnamomea L., Osmundaceae ), gray birch ( Betula populifolia Marsh. , Betulaceae ), birch ( Betula sp. , Betulaceae ) ( Godfrey 1972). The larva is illustrated in Wagner (2005).

MAP 19. Collecting localities of Melanchra assimillis .

Figures

FIGURES 33–40. Adults. 33, Melanchra adjuncta, m, Virginia, Montgomery Co.; 34, Melanchra assimilis, m, Canada, Newfoundland, Doyles, Codroy Valley, 8 July 1959, D.C. Ferguson; 35, Polia detracta, m, North Carolina, Haywood Co., Purchase Knob, 4924 ft., 8 June 2002, J. Adams, USNMENT 00153850; 36, Polia detracta, m, Tennessee, Sevier Co., Campsite 20, 2520 ft., 22 June 2004, M.G. Pogue, USNMENT 00220921; 37, Polia detracta, m, North Carolina, Swain Co., 15.2 mi NE GSMNP ent. on 441, Deep Creek Trail, 4815 ft., 8 June 2003, M.G. Pogue, USNMENT 00155420; 38, Polia imbrifera, m, North Carolina, Haywood Co., Polls Gap, Rough Fork Trail, 5140 ft., 28 June 2004, M.G. Pogue, USNMENT 00221234; 39, Polia nimbosa, m, North Carolina, Swain Co., 5.6 mi SW of Jct. 441 & Clingmans Dome Rd., Noland Divide Trail, 5950 ft., 28 July 2003, M.G. Pogue, USNMENT 00156519; 40, Polia nimbosa, m, Tennessee, Sevier Co., 1.3 mi W of Jct. 441 & Clingmans Dome Rd., Road Prong Trail, 28 July 2003, M.G. Pogue, USN- MENT 00156574.