Cisseps fulvicollis

Hübner, 1818

Yellow-collared Scape Moth

Cisseps fulvicollis, the -collared , is a member of the Arctiinae. are distinguished by a bright yellow or orange collar on a black body, with wingspan ranging 25–38 mm. The is active during daylight hours, feeding on nectar and pollen. feed nocturnally on grasses and sedges. It is widespread across North America from Canada to Texas and Florida.

Cisseps fulvicollis by (c) brendanboyd, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Cisseps fulvicollis P1460276a by xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Cisseps fulvicollis 167981491 by Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cisseps fulvicollis: //ˈsɪsɛps ˌfʊlvɪˈkɒlɪs//

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Identification

Distinguished from similar dark by the bright or orange collar on the . The Virginia ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica) is similar in appearance but has different geographic distribution—C. fulvicollis occurs in the southeastern US where C. virginica is absent. are , unlike many moth .

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Habitat

Fields, forest edges, gardens, and meadows. Associated with areas where larval plants (grasses and sedges) are present.

Distribution

North America from Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) south through the United States to Texas and Florida. Widespread throughout eastern and central North America.

Seasonality

Active late spring through summer, with peak activity in late summer and autumn. are and may be observed feeding during daylight hours.

Diet

feed on nectar and pollen. feed on grasses (Poaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae).

Host Associations

  • grasses - larval Poaceae
  • sedges - larval Cyperaceae

Life Cycle

Females lay on grasses and sedges. are , , or black with sparse long, soft pale , bearing dark stripes on back and sides surrounded by yellow or orange stripes. feed nocturnally. and details are not well documented.

Behavior

are , actively feeding on nectar during daylight hours. This contrasts with the habits of many related . feed at night and are rarely observed.

Ecological Role

serve as when feeding on nectar. function as on grasses and sedges. The is part of the clan, many of which employ aposematic coloration as a defense strategy.

Human Relevance

Considered a in gardens and meadows. No known negative economic impact. The aposematic coloration makes it a subject of interest for naturalists and photographers.

Similar Taxa

  • Ctenucha virginicaSimilar dark body with bright markings; distinguished by geographic separation (C. virginica absent from southeastern US where C. fulvicollis occurs) and structural differences in and shape

More Details

Subspecies

Two recognized: Cisseps fulvicollis fulvicollis and Cisseps fulvicollis pallens (H. Edwards, 1886)

Taxonomic history

Originally described as Glaucopis fulvicollis by in 1818; later transferred to Cisseps

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Sources and further reading