Endangered Resources Program Species Information
Pitcher Plant Moth (Exyra fax)

Overview

Species Overview

There is no overview information available for that species.

Status and NHI Documented Occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status (State and Federal Status) and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Pitcher Plant Moth (Exyra fax). See the Working List Key for more information about the abbreviations used. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. For invertebrates, dots depict locations from the "Invertebrate Atlas," a database with occurrences of rare and common aquatic and select terrestrial invertebrate species found in Wisconsin and adjacent areas. While the invertebrate atlas is a quality assured database, not all records have been verified. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.

Summary Information State Status: SC/N Federal Status in Wisconsin: none State Rank: S2S3 Global Rank: G4 Tracked by NHI: Y Species of Greatest Conservation Need: Y

Detailed Information

Identification: A small Noctuid moth with purple to maroon forewings marked with a submedian yellow patch. The hindwings and abdomen are medium gray. Submit specimen to a specialist for verification. Wingspan: 20-22 mm. Length of forewing: 8-10 mm. Larva reddish-brown, bearing raised tubercles mostly toward the posterior, and lacking prolegs on abdominal segments three and four (Ferge, pers. comm.).

Similar Species: None known in Wisconsin.

Habitat: Open, wet bogs having an abundance of pitcher-plant (Sarracenia purpurea). Microhabitat includes pitchers and flowerheads of the hostplant.

Host Plant: Pitcher-plant (Sarracenia purpurea).

Associated Species: Bog copper (Lycaena epixanthe).

State Distribution: Bayfield, Langlade and Ozaukee Counties. Very localized, with few known Wisconsin occurrences. Little effort has been made to search for this species by day, and it likely has been missed in many bogs due to its poor attraction to blacklight.

Global Distribution: Mainly Atlantic Coastal Plain and Great Lakes region of eastern North America; from Manitoba through Michigan to Nova Scotia and Maine south to Georgia (Lafontaine & Poole 1991).

Threats: Disruption of bog hydrology, indiscriminate application of biocides.

Phenology: Adults are present from late June through mid July in most Wisconsin localities and as late as mid August in the Lake Superior region.

Life History: Univoltine. Eggs are laid on the inner surface of pitchers. As larvae mature, they either tie the top of the pitcher closed or form a silken web over its mouth. The larvae overwinter and complete their development in spring (Lafontaine & Poole 1991).

Survey Guidance: Adults are primarily diurnal and may be found sitting on the inner surface of the pitchers. The presence of the species can be more easily detected by larval feeding damage and closed-off pitchers (Lafontaine & Poole 1991). Adults are rarely attracted to blacklight. New records should be documented with voucher specimens.

Inventory, Monitoring and Research Needs: Locate additional populations. A considerable amount of potential habitat in Wisconsin has not been surveyed. There are likely many undiscovered populations throughout northern Wisconsin.

Information originally presented as part of the Online Field Guide to Rare Lepidoptera: Bogs and Barrens.

Photos

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Photo © Les Ferge.

Related Links

Links to Additional Pitcher Plant Moth Information

There are currently no additional links for this species.

Other Links Related to Butterflies and Moths

• Wisconsin Butterflies (Mike Reese)
• More Butterfly Links
• The Field Museum [Exit DNR]
• Online Field Guide to Rare Lepidoptera: Bogs and Barrens