Argillophora furcilla Grote, 1873
A cane moth
NatureServe Global Rank: G3G4
Virginia State Rank: S1S3
VA DGIF Tier: IV
Federal Legal Status: None
Virginia Legal Status: None
Description: Argillophora furcilla is about 24mm in wingspan. The front wings are light tan with a darker area towards the middle of the wing. Both the lighter and dark area is bisected by a sharp white line that runs from the base of the wing out to the trailing (posterior) edge, and then diagonally towards but not quite reaching the apex of the front wings. There is a small black spot in the orbicular region and a white spot that blends with the diagonal white line. The hind wing is a paler tan slightly darker around the outer periphery. Both wings have tiny black dots along the terminal line, immediately inside the fringe.
Similar species: Argilliphora furcilla is slightly similar to a few other light tan species of Noctuids, but the sharp, white diagonal line is diagnostic.
North American Range: There are scattered collections of this species in the native cane species that range in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi. It has also been documented in Lee and Suffolk counties in Virginia.
VA Observations by Locality: Lee
Flight season and broods: There is very little information available for this species, but they have been found in South Carolina between March and August.
Habitat and Food Plants: This cane moth can occur in a variety of habitats as long as substantial cane is present, such as in conifer, hardwood, mixed forests and woodlands, and savanna. Canes are the food plant for this species.
Behavior and Ecology: Little is known regarding this moth's life history.
Population trend and potential threats: Argillophora furcilla seems much less common than the food plant, and though will probably prove to be globally uncommon, it will not be imperiled rangewide. The practice of burning cane areas frequently, especially in the coastal plain, may eliminate it from places in its range.
Management practices: To determine proper management practices, more information on the biology and sensitivity to prescribed burning are needed.
References: Moth Photographers Group at the Mississippi Entomological Museum at Mississippi State University. Web application at: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/large_map.php?hodges=9060 Accessed: 11Apr2013
NatureServe. 2011. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed: April 20, 2012).