Sensitive Chytonix

Chytonix sensilis Grote, 1881

Chytonix sensilis
Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility (CBIF)

Class
Insecta (Insects)
Family
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
State Protection
Not Listed
Not listed or protected by New York State.
Federal Protection
Not Listed
State Conservation Status Rank
S1S3
Critically Imperiled, Imperiled, or Vulnerable in New York - Conservation status is uncertain; could be especially vulnerable, very vulnerable, or vulnerable to disappearing from New York, due to rarity or other factors. More information is needed to assign either S1, S2 or S3.
Global Conservation Status Rank
G4
Apparently Secure globally - Uncommon in the world but not rare; usually widespread, but may be rare in some parts of its range; possibly some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors.

Summary

Did you know?

There was some uncertainty regarding whether or not Chytonix sensilis is actually the same species as the very similar Chytonix ruperti, and recent updates to taxonomy consider them synonymous (Lafontaine and Schmidt 2011).

State Ranking Justification

It is not clear how rare this is in New York. At present, definite populations of Chytonix sensilis are recognized in New York in the Albany Pine Bush and on Long Island as well as Jefferson, Clinton, and Monroe counties. The number of known occurrences of Chytonix sensilis has increased with increased inventory work in appropriate habitats and it is very likely that a few more populations occur on Long Island. However, there are only seven known locations in New York.

Short-term Trends

This species should have increased both on Long Island, after the massive wildfires in the 1990s, and at the Albany Pine Bush due to prescribed burning. More data on the short-term trends is needed, however.

Long-term Trends

The long-term trend indicates that there has been a moderate decline in the population from historical numbers, as a large amount of habitat has been developed around Albany and on Long Island.

Conservation and Management

Threats

The biology of this species is poorly known, making the threats difficult to assess. The larva is a fungus feeder that forages in the leaf litter, apparently feeding mostly off of dead wood. At some locations, lack of fire could reduce populations (NYSDEC 2015), but complete burning of the occupied habitat also could be a threat since most or all of the year is spent above ground.

Conservation Strategies and Management Practices

In sandy pine barrens, this species seems to be somewhat fire dependent. However, it is unclear if this is the case on flatrock barrens habitats. Populations in Ontario can be dense with or without recent fires (Dale Schweitzer).

Research Needs

More surveys to determine extent of occurrence and research into specific threats and management needs should be conducted.

Habitat

Habitat

This species is typically confined to xeric (dry) sites such as pitch pine-scrub oak barrens and open oak woodlands (Wagner et al. 2003). It is known from pitch pine-scrub oak barrens at Albany and Long Island and sandstone pavement barrens in Clinton County. The habitats are similar elsewhere in the range and are usually on sand, but they occasionally occur on acid rocks like granite. Many apparently suitable habitats lack this species. Populations may increase in the decade after fires, but they can persist at low density for decades without fire.

Associated Ecological Communities

  • Pitch pine-oak forest (guide)
    A mixed forest that typically occurs on well-drained, sandy soils of glacial outwash plains or moraines; it also occurs on thin, rocky soils of ridgetops. The dominant trees are pitch pine mixed with one or more of the following oaks: scarlet oak, white oak, red oak, or black oak.
  • Pitch pine-scrub oak barrens (guide)
    A shrub-savanna community that occurs on well-drained, sandy soils that have developed on sand dunes, glacial till, and outwash plains.
  • Sandstone pavement barrens (guide)
    An open canopy woodland that occurs on very shallow soils over sandstone bedrock; this community is best developed where the bedrock is nearly level, thus forming a pavement. The best developed examples are found on Potsdam Sandstone in Clinton County. Large examples often include wetlands, such as perched bogs and inland poor fens.

Range

New York State Distribution

The known populations of this species are disjointed throughout New York. Known occurrences are in the Albany area and Long Island, as well as Clinton, Jefferson, and Monroe Counties.

Global Distribution

The approximate historical range is southern New Hampshire to Minnesota and formerly southern Ohio, eastward extending south, mostly in the coastal plain, from New Jersey to central Florida.

Best Places to See

  • Albany Pine Bush (Albany County)

Identification Comments

General Description

Chytonix sensilis is very similar to other species in the genus. The fore wings are brown or reddish. When wings are folded, the black postmedial line is straighter across the back and then bends down on the sides, rather than a continuous even curve like C. palliatricula, with a small white spot attached to it (BugGuide 2014; Beutenmuiller 1901). The wingspan is approximately 31 mm.

Characters Most Useful for Identification

The flight season is a strong clue that will aid in the identification of this species, as it will be found in July or August. Any specimens found before mid-July and in September, except possibly on Long Island, can be assumed to be Chytonix palliatricula. It is much grayer than Chytonix palliatricula and differs in genitalia (Forbes 1954). The subterminal line of the forewing is preceded by a vague dark shade on Chytonix sensilis. Any identification of this species must be verified by an expert and may require genitalia dissection if the specimen is worn. Field photographs under artificial lights should not be used for the basis of identification.

Best Life Stage for Proper Identification

Adult only.

Behavior

The adults come readily to blacklights and sometimes also come to bait.

Diet

The larvae apparently graze fungi in the leaf litter, mostly off of dead wood.

Best Time to See

This species is strictly single brooded flying in about late July to mid-August in the Albany area (BugGuide 2014). It likely occurs a bit later on Long Island (in August) and earlier in Clinton County (by mid-July). Specimens of this genus collected later or earlier than these dates are the common Chytonix palliatricula, which likely flies from May into September, as it does in New Jersey.

  • Reproducing
  • Larvae present and active
  • Pupae or prepupae present

The time of year you would expect to find Sensitive Chytonix reproducing, larvae present and active, and pupae or prepupae present in New York.

Sensitive Chytonix Images

Taxonomy

Sensitive Chytonix
Chytonix sensilis Grote, 1881

  • Kingdom Animalia
    • Phylum Arthropoda (Mandibulates)
      • Class Insecta (Insects)
        • Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Skippers, and Moths)
          • Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Synonyms

  • Chytonix ruperti Franclemont, 1941

Comments on the Classification

There is disagreement among experts as to whether Chytonix ruperti is a synonym (or subspecies) of Chytonix sensilis or a separate species, as was originally proposed. Much of this confusion stems from the failure to recognize that Ontario, Wisconsin, most of Michigan, and northern Ohio populations are referable to Chytonix ruperti, as is suggested by the ranges given by Forbes (1954). The differences in wing characters are quite minor (see Forbes 1954), but do seem consistent at least in Ontario and Wisconsin. The genitalia difference is also quite minor and it is unknown whether this is consistent or not. If these in fact are separate species, it is possible some recent New York records would refer to Chytonix ruperti, but those from the Albany area and all recent specimens from Long Island are normal Chytonix sensilis.

Additional Resources

References

Allen, T.J., J.P. Brock, and J. Glassberg. 2005. Caterpillars in the field and garden. Oxford University Press, New York. 232 pp.

Brock, J. P., and K. Kaufman. 2003. Butterflies of North America. Kaufman Focus Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, NY 284 pp.

Dennehy, Paul. Chytonix Identification. BugGuide.Net, 21 Aug. 2014, bugguide.net/node/view/982785.

Ferge, L. A., and G. J. Balogh. 2000. Checklist of Wisconsin Moths (Superfamilies Drepanoidea, Geometroidea, Mimmallonoidea, Bombycoidea, Sphingoidea, and Noctuiodea). Contributions in Biology and Geology of the Milwaukee Public Museum No. 93. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 55 pp. and one color plate.

Forbes, William T. M. 1954. Lepidoptera of New York and neighboring states part III. Cornell University Experiment Station Memoir 329.

Handfield, Louis, 1999. Le Guide des Papillons du Quebec, Scientific Version. Broquet Inc, Boucherville, Quebec, Canada, 155pp + plates.

Kimball, C. P. 1965. The Lepidoptera of Florida. Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas, Vol. 1. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Gainesville, Florida. 363 pp. and 26 plates.

Lafontaine, J.D. and B.C. Schmidt. 2011. Additions and corrections to the check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico. In: Schmidt B.C, Lafontaine J.D (Eds) Contributions to the systematics of New World macro-moths III. ZooKeys 149:145-161.

New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. New York Natural Heritage Program Databases. Albany, NY.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 2015. New York State Wildlife Action Plan Species Status Assessments. Albany, NY: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Rings, R. W., E. H. Metzler, F. J. Arnold, and D. H. Harris. 1992. The Owlet Moths of Ohio (Order Lepidoptera, family Noctuidae). Ohio Biol. Surv. Bull. New Series, Vol. 9, no. 2, vi. + 219 pp., 16 color plates.

Rockburne, E. W., and J. D. LaFontaine. 1976. The cutworm moths of Ontario and Quebec. Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture. Publication 1593. 164 pp.

Wagner, D.L., M.W. Nelson, and D.F. Schweitzer. 2003. Shrubland Lepidoptera of southern New England and southeastern New York: ecology, conservation, and management. Forest Ecology and Management 185:95-112.

Links

About This Guide

Information for this guide was last updated on: May 12, 2021

Please cite this page as:
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Chytonix sensilis. Available from: https://guides.nynhp.org/sensitive-chytonix/. Accessed March 18, 2024.