Polia detracta (Walker) Disparaged Arches

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, The Hadeninae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA 2380, Zootaxa 2380 (1), pp. 1-75 : 27-28

19. Polia detracta (Walker) Disparaged Arches

( Figs. 35–37 , Map 20)

Identification: Forewing length 13–17 mm. The male antenna is bipectinate and is filiform in the female. The overall appearance of this species is that of a dark gray moth with a prominent, black, triangular claviform spot in the forewing. This species closely resembles Hadena ectypa , but lacks the fine, white subterminal line found in H. ectypa . There is a small black spot at base of forewing below Cu vein. The orbicular and reniform spots are prominent, lighter than the ground color, and bordered with black. Hindwing is dark gray.

Flight period: Mid-May to mid-August.

Collected localities: North Carolina : Haywood Co., Balsam Mtn. Picnic area on Flat Creek Trail, Cataloochee pull off at Sal Patch Gap , Cataloochee uphill from pull off across road, Cove Creek Rd. , Cove Creek Rd. just west of paved section 0.5 rd. mi from park edge, trail to Hannah Hogden Cemetery , Mt. Sterling trail 0.72 mi from Trailhead , Purchase Knob , Purchase Knob 1.1 rd. mi from house, Purchase Knob north of house, Purchase Knob NW of house, Purchase Knob at house, Purchase Knob at lower creek, Rough Fork Trail Polls Gap on Balsam Mtn. Rd. 6.1 mi N of Blue Ridge Parkway; Swain Co., Big Cove Rd. site b, Big Cove Rd. site p, Big Cove Rd. site w, 13.5 mi NE of GSMNP entrance on Rt. 441 Thomas Divide trail, 15.2 mi NE of GSMNP entrance on Rt. 441 Deep Creek Trail , 8.3 mi NW of GSMNP entrance on Rt. 441 Kephart Prong trail, Lakeview Dr. at 1 st turnaround Quietway Trail , 0.2 km W mouth of Hazel Creek , 0.5 km from mouth of Chanbers Creek 300 ft up hillside on NW side, 0.7 km up creek from mouth of Goldmine Creek , 300 ft. above lake on Welch Ridge, 0.7 km S Payne Cemetery, Smokemont, 0.1 mi NE of Twentymile Ranger Station, 0.2 mi NE of Twentymile Ranger Station. Tennessee: Blount Co., Cades Cove Ranger Station, 0.2 mi SW of Campsite 13 on Wolf Ridge trail, Parsons Bald , Spence Field , Tremont ; Cocke Co. , Cosby 3.6 mi E of Jct. on Rt. 32, Cosby ATBI house, Foothills Parkway, Foothills Parkway at I-40, Foothills Parkway south overlook, Foothills Parkway 2 nd pullout, Foothills Parkway East, Foothills Parkway East 1.3 mi N of 321; Sevier Co. , E of Campsite 20, W of Campsite 20, Campsite 20 near creek, Greenbrier covered picnic area 3.5 mi S Rt. 321, Sugarlands Visitor Center. (210 specimens)

Elevation range: 1330–5265 ft. (405–1605 m)

General distribution: A widespread and common species from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia across Canada to British Columbia . In the U.S. it occurs from Maine south to Florida and west to Montana and Utah.

Larval hosts: Host plants predominantly include trees and woody shrubs, such as pale serviceberry ( Amelanchier pallida Greene , Rosaceae ), gray birch ( Betula populifolia Marsh. , Betulaceae ), hickories ( Carya spp. , Juglandaceae ), oaks ( Quercus spp. , Fagaceae ), white oak ( Quercus alba L., Fagaceae ), common dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. , Asteraceae ), lowbush blueberry ( Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton , Ericaceae ), and velvetleaf huckleberry ( Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx. , Ericaceae ) ( Tietz 1972). Covell (1984) added clover.

MAP 20. Collecting localities of Polia detracta .

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.