Endangered Resources Program Species Information
Boreal Gem (Heliothis borealis)

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 Boreal Gem (Heliothis borealis). 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: S2? Global Rank: G4 Tracked by NHI: Y Species of Greatest Conservation Need:

Detailed Information

Identification: A small Noctuid moth with the forewings blackish-brown basally, a brownish-white patch extending from the reniform spot and a chocolate brown border along the outer margin. The hindwings are black with a prominent white median area. Very difficult to verify visually due to the rapid flight. Collect and submit specimen to a specialist for verification. Wingspan: 22-24 mm. Length of forewing: 10-11 mm. The last instar larva is dark green dorsally and marked with a lime green subdorsal longitudinal stripe. The ventral area is medium green marked with a white subspiracular stripe (Hardwick 1996).

Similar Species: None known in Wisconsin.

Habitat: Open muskeg bogs with scattered black spruce and tamarack. Also found in open jack pine/oak barrens.

Nectar Source: Bog rosemary (Andromeda glaucophylla), leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata) and blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) flowers.

Host Plant: Uncertain in Wisconsin. Reported initially from bog laurel (Kalmia polifolia) in northern Ontario. In Manitoba, a captive female laid eggs on Starry Chickweed (Cerastium arvense), on which the larvae were successfully reared. Partially grown larvae also ate Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) and a species of Phlox in captivity (Hardwick 1996).

Associated Species: Freija fritillary (Boloria freija), red-disked alpine (Erebia discoidalis) and the Noctuid moths, Anarta luteola and Syngrapha microgamma, occur with H. borealis in bogs, while the frosted elfin (Incisalia irus) and hoary elfin (I. polios) occur with it in pine/oak barrens in Central Wisconsin.

State Distribution: Adams, Burnett, Juneau, Oneida and Price Counties. Likely to be more common than present records indicate. Efforts to find this species are hampered by poor flowering of nectar sources in some seasons.

Global Distribution: Northern Ontario and the northern Prairie Provinces west through Alberta, south through Upper Michigan to central Wisconsin.

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

Phenology: Adults are present during the last three weeks of May.

Life History: Univoltine. Eggs are scattered carelessly over the apex of the plant, and hatch in 4-5 days. Young larvae bore into a flower bud to feed, commonly building a webbed nest within or between buds or blossoms. Later instars feed on flower parts from a position on the stem. Larvae mature in a mean of 20.7 days. Pupation occurs in a shallow cell on the soil surface roofed with silk and surface litter (Hardwick 1996) where the pupa overwinters.

Survey Guidance: Adults are diurnal. They are active on sunny days and attracted to available nectar sources including bog rosemary (Andromeda glaucophylla), leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata) and blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) flowers. They have a very rapid, darting flight that makes visual observation very difficult. Adults are not attracted to blacklight at night. New county 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 Boreal Gem 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