Moths of North Carolina

sciName	taxonomic_comments	id_comments	habitat	food	observation_methods	state_protection	NHP_ranks	status_comments
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Eccritothrix guenterella None MONA_number: 422.00		In this species the head and dorsal tuft are straw yellow, and the antenna brownish. The thorax is dark purple brown and the area above the eyes also often has a patch of dark purple brown scales. The ground color of the forewing is dull yellow and dusted with fuscous scales throughout. There are two dark-brown to blackish spots just before the midwing, with the pair centered on the middle of the wing. A third spot that is usually larger than the basal two is present at about three-fourths the wing length near the center of the wing. The outer margin and fringe are heavily dusted with fuscous scales, but these are not arranged as distinct spots. The hindwing is uniformly lighter colored than the forewing and has a well-developed fringe. Eccritothrix guenterella is similar to Tinea apicimaculella, but the latter differs by having a single dark basal spot instead of two, a dark longitudinal stripe through the forewing, and dark spots along the apical margin (missing in Eccritothrix).	Most of our records are from xeric communities in the Sandhills.	The hosts are apparently undocumented.	The adults are attracted to lights.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR[S2S3]	This is a seemingly uncommon species throughout its wide range. It is most common in North Carolina in xeric communities in the Sandhills.
Apantesis phalerata Harnessed Tiger Moth MONA_number: 8169.00	The genus Apantesis is represented by 43 species in North America, including 13 species in North Carolina.	Species of Apantesis and Grammia resemble one another, but Apantesis are generally smaller and the pattern of yellow lines is usually much more reduced, with the median, lower portion of the post-median, and fine vein lines always missing in Apantesis; a good quality photograph showing the forewing pattern is usually enough to distinguish between these genera. However, the hindwings must also be visible to distinguish between the species of Apantesis, and even then only the males can usually be diagnosed; photographs must show the hindwings to be acceptable as records for this genus. (Note: The species formerly in the genus Grammia have been moved to Apantesis). Male A. phalerata are usually recognizable by a cream or pinkish-yellow wash on the hindwings and a sparse band of small subterminal spots; in the other species, the ground color is usually a brighter or more solid yellow or red and the subterminal spots are larger or more confluent. Some males, however, may have larger spots or a brighter color on the hindwings. Questionable males can be easily distinguished by dissection: in A. phalerata, there is a conspicuous process at the end of the valve and usually a pair of posteriorly-pointing spines at the distal end of the aedeagus (see illustrations in Forbes, 1960). Females of A. phalerata are similar to those of A. vittata, A. phalerata, and A. nais, having a highly reduced set of pale lines on the forewings and broad, confluent black bands along the outer and inner margins of the hindwing. All three of these species can also have red or pink in the medial and basal areas of the hindwing and it is probably better to rely on males -- which are more often captured in any case -- for identifications.	Most of our records come from fairly open habitats, including dune grasslands on barrier islands; Longleaf Pine savannas, flatwoods, and sandhills; old fields; and dry upland forests. A few records, however, also come from peatlands and bottomland forests.	Larvae are probably polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of plants. Reported hosts include plantain (Plantago), Saltmeadow Cordgrass (Spartina patens), Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), clover (Trifolium), and Corn (Zea mays) (Tietz, 1972). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina.	Males come moderately well to blacklights, with up to 13 collected in a single trap; females are much more rarely collected. Does not come to bait.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	G5 SNR [S5]	This species occupies a wide range of habitats and is broadly distributed across the entire state. Appears to be quite secure.
Carmenta bassiformis Ironweed Clearwing MONA_number: 2596.00	Of the 136 or more members of the Sesiidae that occur in North American north of Mexico, 37 have been recorded in North Carolina. Some sesiids, known broadly as clearwing borers, are significant pests of commercial crops. The great majority are mimics of wasps and hornets.	The following description is based primarily on that of Forbes (1923) and Engelhardt (1946). In the males, the antenna is black with bluish reflections and often has a short area of buff shading near the tip. The palp is pale yellow with a blackish tip, while the head is black and the collar yellow. The thorax varies from black to bluish-black or coppery and has a long, thin, yellow stripe along the sides, along with tufts of yellow scales that extend from the metathorax. The black to violaceous-black abdomen is long and slender, and has fine yellow stripes on segments 1 to 4 and typically on 6 and 7. The large, fan-shaped, anal tuft is mostly lustrous black with yellow along the sides and through the center on the undersides. The forewing is transparent, with a narrow, metallic bronzy border, while the outer margin is rounded inwardly with dull, yellowish rays between the veins. The oblong discal mark is purplish-black and relatively straight. The hindtibia is yellow below, often mostly black above, while the tarsi are mostly yellow, with darker scaling often present on the joints. Females are generally similar, but the antenna has a more conspicuous buff to yellowish or whitish area before the tip, and the discal mark on the forewing is bronzy-brown instead of black. The abdomen in broader than that of the male, and there are two or three broad yellow bands that contrast with the remaining bands that are much narrower (segment 5 lacks banding altogether). The anal tuft is short and blunt relative to that of the male, and has black at the base, with orange to yellowish scales at the tip. Carmenta bassiformis is most easily confused with C. ithacae. The latter tends to have the light mark on the antenna, the bands on the abdomen, the occiput fringe, and the lateral fringe on the anal tuft more whitish or yellowish-white, although the antennal mark on female C. bassiformis is often whitish. Female C. ithacae lack the prominent yellowish tip of the anal brush as seen in female C. bassiformis, and the whitish region below the tip of the antenna is generally shorter than that of female C. bassiformis. Both sexes of C. ithacae have hind tarsi with long black bands that alternate with shorter yellowish or whitish bands. In C. bassiformis, males have yellow hind tarsi while the females have alternating dark and yellowish bands on the tarsi, with the dark bands less prominent and boldly contrasting than those of C. ithacae. In addition, C. ithacae lacks the powdered yellow scales on the coxa and legs that are seen on C. bassiformis. Size differences for a given sex are also useful, with C. bassiformis being larger and having minimal size overlap with C. ithacae.	Local populations are generally associated with mesic edge habitats, old fields, openings in bottomland sites and similar habitats that support rank weedy perennials.	The larvae feed on species of ironweed (Vernonia) and possibly Joe-Pye-weeds (Eutrochium) (Forbes, 1923; Engelhardt, 1946; Covell, 1984). The reported hosts include Sweet Joe-pye-weed (Eutrochium purpureum), Arkansas Ironweed (V. arkansana), and New York Ironweed (V. noveboracensis). Surprising little work has been done to document the host plants since Engelhardt's (1946) work in New York. Engelhardt (1946) was unable to locate any larvae that were feeding on Joe-pye-weed, and questioned whether members of this genus are used as hosts. We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina.	The adults are not attracted to lights. They are diurnal and can be found on flowers or resting on the upper surfaces of vegetation during the day. They are most active during the warmer hours of the day when they nectar on flowers, and can be found resting on foliage in the morning and late in the afternoon. The males are attracted to pheromone traps.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Cydia caryana Hickory Shuckworm Moth MONA_number: 3471.00	Cydia is a large genus with over 200 described species that occur worldwide, and with around 50 species in North America. Several species are important economic pests that often feed on fruits and seeds.	The following description is based in part on that of Forbes (1923). The palps are dull whitish and the head, antennae, and thorax are grayish brown to brown. The forewing ground varies from medium or dark brown to nearly black, and has pale-tipped scales that produce a lightly dusted appearance. The costa has a series of rather poorly developed yellowish-white to whitish strigulae that alternate with darker markings and that are most prominent on the apical half. The costa has three or four bluish-metallic or lead-colored lines that lead from these, the most prominent being one that begins just beyond the middle of the costa and extends towards the ocellus, and a second that is at around three-fourths and extends towards the apical third of the termen. The ocellus is inconspicuous and has a lead-colored vertical bar on both the anterior and posterior margins, along with four or five horizontal black bars that are often missing or poorly expressed. The fringe is silvery white to leaden-colored with a dark basal line along the termen. The hindwing is whitish on the basal half and fuscous on the remainder, with a silvery-white fringe and a fuscous basal line. Cydia caryana can be separated from our other Cydia by the combination of a dark brown to black forewing and a white patch on the hindwing.	Our records come mainly from residential areas. Natural habitats include rich, wet hardwood forests and montane mesic hardwoods but also include barrier islands and streamheads in the Sandhills, which would indicate that Mockernut or other hickory species may be used.	The larvae feed on members of the Juglandaceae as well as Phylloxera leaf galls (Forbes, 1923; Heinrich, 1923; Moznette et al., 1940; Prentice, 1966; Payne and Heaton, 1975; Dinkins and Reid, 1988; Eikenbary et al., 1991; Lam et al., 2011; Gilligan and Epstein, 2014; Brown, 2022). The known hosts include Pecan (Carya illinoiensis), Shagbark Hickory (C. ovata), and Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). It is very likely that other native hickories such as Mockernut Hickory (C. tomentosa) are also used, but this needs to be verified. We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina.	The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found in pecan fruits and other hosts during the summer months.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR S3S4	This species occurs statewide and appears to be relatively secure.
Blastobasis pulchella None MONA_number: 1167.00	Blastobasis is a taxonomically difficult genus, with several undescribed species in North America. There appears to be several poorly resolved species complexes within this and closely related genera. A comprehensive revision of the genus is needed.	The following is based in part on the description by Dietz (1910). The labial palp, antenna, head, and thorax vary from light tannish-brown to darker shades of brown. The forewing has a rather wide, silver white fascia at one-third that is straight. It is sharply defined posteriorly by heavy, dark brown shading that fades posteriorly before reaching a dark discal spot at about the middle of the wing. There are two additional spots at the end of cell at about three-fourths, but these are often completely obscured by a straight, dark brown fascia. The middle and apical regions are more or less suffused with brown and sprinkling with varying concentrations of white scales. The cilia are similar in color to the ground and there is often some fine darker mottling at the termen. The hindwing is pale gray and dusted with fuscous. The legs are brownish with white banding on the tarsi. Pigritia murtfeldtella is similar, but lacks the conspicuous dark spot at mid-wing and the dark fascia at three-fourths. This species also has poorly developed palps that are not visible when viewed from above. Some of the Holcocera species are also similar, but the whitish fascia at one-third typically doesn't reach the inner margin, and the dark fascia at three-fourths is missing (typically, pairs spots are present instead).	The habitat requirements are largely unknown. Most of our records are from residential neighborhoods.	The hosts are undocumented.	The adults occasional visit lights.		GNR SNR [S3S4]	We currently do not have sufficient information on the distribution, abundance, and habitat requirements of this species in order to assess its conservation status.
sciName	taxonomic_comments	id_comments	habitat	food	observation_methods	state_protection	NHP_ranks	status_comments
Epiblema glenni Glenn's Epiblema MONA_number: 3184.10		This species is predominantly brown with a salmon-colored median band that often has two or three dots of dark scales along the inner margin. The palps, head, thorax and antennae are all dark brown and concolorous with a prominent basal patch on the forewing. The dark brown basal patch contrast sharply with the lighter median band, which extends from the inner margin towards the costa, and abruptly narrows near the center of the wing. The distal edge of the band is more or less concave on the costal half of the wing. In females the band continues forward to the costa as a narrower band, while in males it is separated from the costal fold by a narrow strip of dark scales (Wright, 2002; Wright and Gilligan, 2023). The median fascia that follows the median band is brownish to grayish and sometimes paler than the basal patch. It has a prominent black spot just behind the median band at the point where it narrows abruptly. The costal stigulae beyond the median band are white and well defined. The ocellus is often obscure, but when evident the central field varies from brown to whitish tan and is crossed longitudinally by four black dashes. It is capped at its apical corner with a black spot of variable expression, and strongly bordered with gray along the basal and tornal margins. The gray border is overlaid to varying degrees with light-brown to pale-salmon scales. E. tripartitana is very similar to E. glenni and is best distinguished by the color and shape of the median band. In E. tripartitana the band appears white to the naked eye, but a pale salmon tint usually is detectable under magnification (Wright, 2002). In females the band merges with the costal stigulae, forming a continuous band from the inner margin to the costa. In males the band is intercepted by the costal fold, but the light-gray to gray costal strigulae on the adjacent portion of the fold often create the impression of it continuing to the costal margin. The convex curvature of the band's distal margin varies from circular, to that of a line bent just above the fold. In E. glenni the median band is distinctly salmon colored, and often has a thin white margin where it adjoins the brown basal patch. Its width narrows markedly above the fold, where the distal edge angles abruptly inward. In females it continues forward to the costa as a narrower band, while in males it is separated from the costal fold by a narrow strip of dark scales (Wright, 2002). Wright (2002) was unable to find any diagnostic differences between the two species based on the male and female genitalia. These species appear to be geographically isolated in North Carolina, with E. glenni restricted to the Blue Ridge and E. tripartitana to the Coastal Plain.	Our records are mostly from fragmented landscapes with a mixture of forests, fields and residential neighborhoods.	The hosts plants are undocumented, but are presumed to be members of the Asteraceae as is the case with other Epiblema species.	The adults are attracted to lights.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR [S2S3]	This species appears to be uncommon in North Carolina, with all of our records restricted to lower-elevation valleys in the Blue Ridge. More information is needed on its host species and ecological requirements before we can fully assess its conservation status.
Platynota semiustana Singed Platynota MONA_number: 3741.00		The following description is based primarily on the description by Powell and Brown (2012). Males and females differ somewhat in their coloration and patterning. In males the palps, head, and thorax have blackish scales. The forewing has dark smoky gray to black coloration on the basal three fourth and contrasting dull orangish to orangish-tan on the terminal fourth. The latter often has a series of blackish striae or raised lighter ridges. A dark tuft of scales is usually evident along the inner margin at around one third the length from the base to the tornus, and an anteriorly oblique, narrow ridge of raised scales extends from the inner margin at around one-half inward to near the middle of the wing. The band may be black or have varying amounts of pale tan scales. Additional blackish striations are often present in the basal three-fifths. All of these marks on the basal three-fourths may be largely obscured in very dark specimens. Females are generally similar but frequently have more red-brown scaling on the forewing and less contrast between the terminal fourth and the basal three-fourths of the wing. The labial palps also are conspicuously longer than the palps of the males. The males have a short costal fold that is less than half the wing length, and a complex hood-like structure on the head. The hindwings of both sexes are brown with a concolorous fringe.	The preferred habitats are poorly documented. Our records are from a diversity of habitats that include residential neighborhoods, floodplain forests, mesic woodlands, xeric sandhill pine forests and a barrier island.	Host plants are poorly documented, with the only apparent record being a larva reared in North Carolina from American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) by Ken Kneidel.	The adults are attracted to lights.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR [S4S5]	Platynota semiustana is widespread and locally common in North Carolina and appears to be secure.
Zelleria retiniella Brindled Zelleria MONA_number: 2431.00			Records in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina come mainly from Longleaf Pine habitat, including sand ridges. Pines are also present in a number of other sites.	The host plants appear to be unknown but a related species, Z. haimbachi, has similar coloration as an adult and has larvae that feed on the needles of Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata (Forbes, 1923).		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Untomia albistrigella None MONA_number: 2223.00	Untomia is a small genus of New World moths, with nine described species that are found from Canada southward to Ecuador and Columbia.	The following description is based on that of Chambers (1872, p. 171). Almost every part of this small moth is brown, including the head, thorax, palps, antennae, and wings. The labial palp is strongly recurved and extends to the thorax. The second joint of the labial palp is brush-like and slightly thickened towards the apex, while the third segment is conspicuously narrower. The forewing is dark brown except for a small oblique white costal streak just before the apex that terminates before reaching the middle of the wing. An opposing streak is on the dorsal margin, but is sometimes missing or reduced to a faint broken line of whitish scales that projects towards the apex. In addition to these, a few indistinct whitish scales or small spots are sometimes evident near the apex. The cilia are pale fuscous and have a dark brown marginal line before their middle. The hindwing is light brown, and the legs are brown with pale annulations on the tarsi. Live specimens also have red eyes.	The preferred habitat is undocumented. Our records are mostly from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.	The hosts are unknown.	The adults occasional come to lights.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR SU	We currently do not have sufficient information on the distribution and abundance of this species within the state to assess its conservation status.
Schinia sanguinea Bleeding Flower Moth MONA_number: 11173.00	One of 126 species in this genus that occur in North America (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010, 2011), the majority of which occur in the West; 25 have been recorded in North Carolina.		All of our records come from the Coastal Plain and from the fire-maintained savannas and sandhills that support populations of its host species of Blazing-Stars.	Larvae reportedly feed on blazing-star (Liatris), including Dense Blazing-star (L. spicata) and Northern Blazing-star (L. scariosa) (Wagner et al., 2011). In North Carolina, both of those species, however, are restricted to the mountains, while our records for Schinia sanguinea are all from the Coastal Plain. Other Liatris species that are more likely hosts in this range include Shaggy Blazing-star (L. pilosa), Sticky Blazing-star (L. resinosa), and Wand Blazing-star (L. virgata).		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	G4 S2S3
sciName	taxonomic_comments	id_comments	habitat	food	observation_methods	state_protection	NHP_ranks	status_comments
Tineidae unidentified species MONA_number: 462.90
Paralobesia liriodendrana Tulip-tree Leaftier Moth MONA_number: 2711.00	Paralobesia is a genus of small tortricid moths, with the majority of species found in the Nearctic Region. Royals et al. (2019) recently completed a much-needed revision of the genus, which now includes 43 species. Only 19 species were described prior to their work, and there appear to be a few remaining undescribed species in North America where there is insufficient material or data to formally describe them (Royals et al., 2019). We currently have 12 described species in North Carolina, as well as one undescribed species (J.B. Sullivan, pers. comm.). Many are very similar in external coloration and patterning, and are best identified using either genitalia or rearing from host-specific plants.	Paralobesia liriodendrana and P. magnoliana were previously treated as a single species, but are now considered to be two cryptic species that cannot be distinguished based on external coloration and patterning (Royals et al., 2019). The following description applies to both species and is based in part on that of Royals et al. (2019). The vertex is pale reddish-brown and the labial palps pale-brown to reddish-brown. The thorax is mottled with reddish-orange and tan scales, and the posterior crest is mottled with dark-brown and orange scales. The ground color of the forewing is bluish-gray and is most prominent on the basal half of the wing where it is typically separated by a thin, outwardly angulated band at around one-fourth the wing length. The most prominent mark is a large median fascia that extends from the costa to the inner margin, with the dorsal half greatly expanded distally. The median fascia varies from uniformly dark brown to two-toned, with the dorsal half lighter and tending towards reddish-brown. The median fascia is followed by a prominent subterminal band (blotch) that is centered near the middle of the wing, along with several smaller blotches between it and the apical third of the costa. In North Carolina specimens, these tend to be lighter than the median fascia and are margined with light reddish-tan scales. The fringe is light reddish-brown, and the hindwing is uniformly brown to dark brown. The abdomen is grayish-brown above. This species is best confirmed by using genitalia or DNA barcoding given that it is indistinguishable from P. magnoliana. Paralobesia viteana is very similar in overall patterning, but has dark-brown marks on the apical half of the wing, lighter-colored palps, and a bluish-gray fringe (Forbes, 1923) versus the light reddish-brown fringe of P. liriodendrana and P. magnoliana. In addition, the costal remnant of the post-median fascia (the small, dark costal mark between the median fascia and the subterminal band) is reduced in size relative to that of P. liriodendrana complex, which is larger and more rectangular-shaped.	Local populations are restricted to mesic hardwood forests, semi-wooded residential communities, and other wooded habitats that have Liriodendron and Magnolia species present.	The larvae feed on members of the Magnoliaceae (Kearfott, 1904, 1907a; Forbes, 1923; Heinrich, 1926; MacKay, 1959; Prentice, 1966; Lam et al., 2011; Beadle & Leckie, 2018; Eiseman, 2022). Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is the most commonly used host, but the larvae are also known to feed on Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and Sweetbay Magnolia (M. virginiana). In North Carolina, we have records for all three host species.	The adults are attracted to lights and the leaf rolls can be found on the host plants.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR S3S5	This species appears to be common in North Carolina where mesic hardwood forests prevail.
Sigela brauneata Brown False Pug Moth MONA_number: 8432.00			Most of our records come from floodplain habitats, with some also coming from mesic slopes.	Larvae have been reared on tree algae (T. McCabe, cited by Wagner et al., 2011). There is a BugGuide record (George Smiley, 2020) of a larva feeding off of algae on the trunk of a hickory in Texas.		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR SNR [S4S5]
Carmenta ithacae MONA_number: 2600.00	Of the 136 or more members of the Sesiidae that occur in North American north of Mexico, 37 have been recorded in North Carolina. Some sesiids, known broadly as clearwing borers, are significant pests of commercial crops. The great majority are mimics of wasps and hornets.	The following description is based primarily on that of Engelhardt (1946). In the males, the antenna is metallic black with a short area of whitish shading near the tip. The palp is whitish or pale yellow below and black above, while the head is lustrous bluish-black and the collar pale yellow. The thorax varies from black to bluish-black and has a long, thin yellow stripe along the sides, along with tufts of sordid yellow scales that extend from the metathorax. The abdomen is long and slender, with violaceous or coppery reflections, and with thin, whitish bands on segments 2, 4, 6 and 7, although North Carolina specimens usually lack the band on segment 6. The bands narrowly unite on the sides, and the one on segment 4 encircles the body. The large, fan-shaped anal tuft is mostly shiny black with whitish scales along the sides and through the center on the underside. The forewing is transparent, with a narrow, black border and black outer margin that has golden-yellowish rays between the veins. The discal mark is purplish-black and squarish to rectangular. The hind tibia and tarsi are mostly black, with the latter having whitish or light-yellowish coloration on both sides of the joints. Females are generally similar, but the antenna has a larger whitish area before the tip and the abdomen is broader. Abdominal segments 2, 4 and 6 have narrow light-yellow or pale white bands, along with broad whitish patches on the sides. The anal tuft is less fan-shaped than that of the male and mostly shiny black with little or no whitish scaling along the outer margins. Carmenta bassiformis is most easily confused with C. ithacae. The latter tends to have the light mark on the antenna, the bands on the abdomen, and the lateral fringe on the anal tuft more whitish or yellowish-white, although the antennal mark on female C. bassiformis is often whitish. Female C. ithacae lack the prominent yellowish tip of the anal brush as seen in female C. bassiformis, and the whitish region below the tip of the antenna is generally shorter than that of female C. bassiformis. Both sexes of C. ithacae have hind tarsi with long black bands that alternate with shorter yellowish or whitish bands. In C. bassiformis, males have yellow hind tarsi while the females have alternating dark and yellowish bands on the tarsi, with the dark bands less prominent and boldly contrasting than those of C. ithacae. Size differences for a given sex are also useful, with C. bassiformis being larger and having minimal size overlap with C. ithacae.	Local populations are patchily distributed across the landscape where the host plants are found and often in mesic forested sites with edge habitats that are partially sunny to sunny.	The adults have been reared from Common Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) and Smooth Oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides), with the latter appearing to be the primary host (Engelhardt, 1946). Reports of this species using Parthenium likely refer to an undescribed species (Carmenta sp. nr ithacae) from Mexico (Dhileepan and McFadyen, 2012). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina.	The adults are not attracted to lights or bait. They are diurnal and can be found on flowers or resting on the upper surfaces of vegetation during the day. The males are attracted to pheromone traps.		GNR[S2S3]	This species appears to be somewhat uncommon in the state. It has probably been undercollected due to the fact that the adults are diurnally active and do not come to lights.
Hypena minualis Sooty Snout MONA_number: 8457.00	One of 29 species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010). Fifteen species have been recorded in North Carolina.		Our few records come mainly from shoreline habitats, including the edges of streams, lakes, and marshes	Larvae feed on mallows, including Globe Mallow, False Mallow, and Sida (Wagner et al., 2018).		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR SNR [S2S3]
sciName	taxonomic_comments	id_comments	habitat	food	observation_methods	state_protection	NHP_ranks	status_comments
Chionodes emptor MONA_number: 2072.30
Stigmella caryaefoliella None MONA_number: 93.10	Members of the genus Stigmella are a group of small leaf-mining moths that typically create linear mines, although a few species form linear-blotch or blotch mines. Newton and Wilkinson (1982) recognized 51 species in their revision on the North American fauna, and new discoveries have since raised the total to around 57 species. Almost all species are specialists and rarely use more than one genus of host plants. Host-specificity, mine characteristics, and genitalic differences are helpful in recognizing closely related forms that are externally similar.	The following description of the adults is based on Braun (1917) and Wilkinson and Scoble (1979). The palps are gray and lustrous, and the antenna is purplish gray and lustrous. The tuft is pale ochreous to bright orange-ochreous. The eye-cap is shining creamy white, and often has brownish purple shading around the edges. The collar varies from pale ochreous to gray-purple. The thorax and forewing are dark grayish brown to deep purplish black, and sometimes have bronze or purple reflections. There is a single, broad, white, postmedial fascia on the forewing. The fascia has a silvery shine and is broadest on the dorsum. The cilia are gray to blackish and concolorous with the wings. The hindwing and cilia are gray. The legs are purplish gray and lustrous, with pale ochreous to purplish patches, particularly on the forelegs, midlegs, hind tarsi and tibial spurs. Stigmella caryaefoliella is difficult to distinguish from closely related forms such as S. ostryaefoliella based on external characteristics. Reliable identification is best achieved using genitalia, DNA barcoding, or by rearing adults from the host plants.	Stigmella caryaefoliella is a specialist on hickories and occurs in a variety of hardwood or mixed conifer-hardwood forests with the host species.	Larvae mine the leaves of hickories, including Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis), Pecan (C. illinoinensis), Shagbark Hickory (C. ovata), and Mockernut Hickory (C. tomentosa) (Eiseman, 2022). In North Carolina, we have records for Bitternut Hickory, Mockernut Hickory, Shagbark Hickory, Pignut Hickory (C. glabra), Sand Hickory (C. pallida), Shellbark Hickory (C. laciniosa), and Red Hickory (C. ovalis).	The adults appear to rarely visit lights and most records are based on either leaf mines or adults that were raised from mines. We recommend searching for mines, and rearing and photographing the adults. A second undescribed species of Stigmella also uses hickory species (here treated as 'Stigmella new species 2'), but has frass that is broadly distributed in the mine throughout most of its length rather than forming a narrow, central line. Care needs to be taken to not confuse the two when examining mines.		GNR S4S5	This species occurs statewide and appears to be secure.
Argyria rufisignella Mother-of-pearl Moth MONA_number: 5462.00		In this species the palps, head, and thorax are a rich rusty-red and the antennae are brown. The forewing is satiny white with the costal margin that is either mostly satiny-white, or with a faint light brown line from the base to as far as the apex. The inner margin has a reddish-brown spot at around two-thirds the wing length, and the costal has two short, outwardly oblique, reddish-brown streaks at around two-thirds and four-fifths the wing length. The terminal line is represented by seven diffuse reddish-brown to fuscous spots that are bordered basally with a dark-brown to blackish, scalloped line. The fringe is reddish-tan apically with a darker basal line, and the hindwing is off-white with a well-developed off-white fringe.	This species has been found in open habitats such as barrens, prairies, and coastal pinelands. Our one record is from a Longleaf pine savanna.	The larval hosts are undocumented. Heppner (2007) list the hosts as 'grass' but did not provide any evidence for this. It may simply reflect the tendency for many members of this taxonomic group to use grasses as hosts.	The adults are attracted to lights.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR SU
Scopula inductata Soft-lined Wave MONA_number: 7169.00	One of 26 species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Pohl et al., 2016), seven of which have been recorded in North Carolina	A moderately small Geometrid. The wings are pale cream or gray and moderately to heavily dusted with brown, sometimes with the brown dominating. They are crossed by five somewhat diffuse lines that are darker gray; the median and postmedian are the strongest (Covell, 1984) and there are small black discal dots on each wing. Inductata is similar but smaller than Scopula limboundata, especially resembling form enuculeata that lacks the dark subterminal shading often found in that species. The lines in inductata are usually paler and more diffuse; they are straighter or more gently curved, running parallel to one another; and the postmedian does not show a strong bulge at the end of the cell or a smaller bulge below it. The basal and median areas are often dusted with darker gray to black scales, whereas these areas are typically clear in limboundata. While the subterminal area can be shaded with gray lines or blotches, these are never as strongly contrasting as in the typical forms of limboundata.	Our records come mainly from wet, open areas, including Pine Savannas in the Coastal Plain and wet meadows in the Piedmont and Mountains. A few records also come from upland meadows at fairly high elevations.	Reported hosts include ragweed (Ambrosia), aster, clover (Trifolium), and cherry (Prunus) (Robinson et al., 2010).		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	G5 SNR [S3S4]
Rhopobota naevana Holly Tortrix MONA_number: 3276.00	The genus Rhopobota consists of eight recognized species that occur worldwide, with only three species occurring in North America. The forewing of all three species has a distinctly pointed aspect due to emargination of the termen just below the apex.	The following is based in part on the description by Kearfott (1907a). The head is dull gray and shaded with brown above the eyes. The palps are dark gray on the outside and the antenna dull fuscous. The thorax varies from dull gray to brownish. The forewing ground color is grayish to grayish brown with darker brownish speckling and is overlain with two dark brown fascia. The first is outwardly angulated and begins near the middle of the inner margin. It typically begins as a broad band on the dorsal half and narrows towards the costa. The second is similar and at around three-fourths where it extends from before the anal angle to the middle of the wing before narrowing and projecting basally towards the costa. The interfascial area between the two is often noticeably lighter than the general ground color. The costa is marked with a series of faint whitish strigulae that are intermixed with brown dots or streaks. The dark streaks become more pronounced on the apical half and end before a dark apical spot that is hook-shaped outwardly. The ocellus is poorly defined and consists of a grayish region that covers the outer third of the wing. It is slightly strigulated with vertical rows of brown scales. The fringe on the forewing is dull fuscous, and the hindwing is smoky brown and somewhat darker toward the apex. This species is variable and specimens often deviate from the description above (Kearfott, 1907a). In particular, specimens often have patches of heavy black dusting on the forewing and may have a well-formed basal patch. Some forms superficially resemble both R. finitimana and R. dietziana and genitalia may be needed in some cases to separate the species. Rhopobota finitimana has a solid basal patch and a brown head and scape, while R. dietziana has whitish coloration on the scape and head. Both species tend to have a lighter interfacial area than R. naevana, which has a more drab overall appearance.	Local populations occur in a diverse array of communities that support the host plants, particularly blueberries in North Carolina. Examples of the diversity of communities that are used in North Carolina include maritime communities on barrier islands, Longleaf Pine communities in the Sandhills, and fens, heath thickets, and northern hardwood forests in the Blue Ridge.	The common name 'Holly Tortrix Moth' is a bit of a misnomer given that the larvae are polyphagous and feed on a variety of trees and shrubs (Kearfott, 1907a; Pohl et al., 2005; Robinson et al., 2010). However, it commonly use hollies and cranberries in the US, and can become a pest in commercial cranberry operations. The known host genera include holly (Ilex), hawthorn (Crataegus), ash (Fraxinus), cherry (Prunus), pear (Pyrus), mountain-ash (Sorbus), meadowsweet (Spiraea), lilac (Syringa), and blueberry (Vaccinium).	The adults are mostly diurnally active (Sylvia and Averill, 2005), but occasionally appear at lights. The nests of webbed leaves and stems can be found on deciduous hollies, cranberries, and other host plants.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR[S3-S4]	This species is diurnally active and has likely been undersampled because its daily activity typically stops at dusk. We need additional information on its distribution and abundance to assess its conservation status within the state.
sciName	taxonomic_comments	id_comments	habitat	food	observation_methods	state_protection	NHP_ranks	status_comments
Etiella zinckenella Gold-banded Etiella MONA_number: 5744.00			Our one record comes from a site located within a large area of natural sandhills habitat. Although some of the recorded host plants for this species occur in that area, it is not clear whether this species is solely a migrant in our area or associated primarily with croplands.	Larvae feed on a wide variety of legumes, including milkvetch (Astragalus), wild indigo (Baptisia), rattlebox (Crotalaria), Soybean (Glycine max), peas (Lathyrus), lupine (Lupinus), bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus), beans (Phaseolus), locust (Robinia), hoary-pea (Tephrosia), vetch (Vicia), and cowpea (Vigna) (Robinson et al., 2010); a number of other families of plants are also used to some extent.		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR SNR	This is an Old World species that is exotic in North America
Hypomecis umbrosaria Umber Moth MONA_number: 6439.00				Reported hosts include birch (Betula) and oak (Quercus) (Robinson et al., 2010). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina.		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	G4 SNR [SU]	The taxonomic status of this species is unclear. It may be lumped with H. gnopharia.
Neohelvibotys polingi None MONA_number: 4979.00		This species exhibits markings that are indistinguishable from those of Neohelvibotys neohelvialis and genitalia are required for identification. The forewing is yellowish buff with darker brown to reddish-brown markings. The antemedial and postmedial lines are distinct and there is a small orbicular dot and reniform bar. The postmedial line is smoothly bowed outward from the costa, then projects obliquely to the inner margin. An even, dark, diffuse band is present along the termen. The hindwing is paler and has a relatively straight postmedial line that is incomplete. A dark, diffuse band is also present along the termen that is similar to the one on the forewing. Neohelvibotys polingi appears to be limited to the Sandhills in North Carolina, while N. neohelvialis is more widely distributed in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont. If this trend is verified with additional sampling, it may be possible to identify many specimensof the latter based on the collection site.	Our records are all from xeric pine communities in the Sandhills.	The host plants are unknown.	The adults are attracted to lights.		GNR[S1-S2]	Our two Sandhills site records as of 2023 appear to constitute a major disjunct group from the nearest known populations in Florida.
Glyphidocera juniperella Juniper Tip Moth MONA_number: 1136.10	Glyphidocera is a large but poorly studied genus with numerous undescribed species in the Neotropics, where they reach their greatest diversity. Adamski (2005) described 88 new species from Costa Rica alone. There are currently 11 described species in North America, and seven species in North Carolina. They are small to medium-sized moths and, with rare exceptions, vary from pale yellowish brown to dark brown. Most have few, if any, diagnostic markings on the wings. Host associations are unknown for almost all species, which suggests that they may be detritivores or fungivores that do not feed on living plants.	The following is based on the description by Adamski and Brown (1987). The palps are strongly recurved and reach backwards to the middle of the head. The head, thorax, antenna, labial palp and forewing are covered with a mixture of dark brown and grayish orange scales. There are typically two conspicuous dark-brown spots near the middle of the wing, one just before one-half and the second at about two-thirds the wing length. The first may have an accompanying spot that is slightly anterior to the first and displaced towards the inner margin. In addition, specimens sometimes have a very small dark brown spot near the wing base. The fringe is brownish-gray. The hindwing is light orange-gray at the base, and more grayish-orange apically. Glyphidocera juniperella resembles several other Glyphidocera in terms of the overall brownish appearance and spot pattern. This species is generally darker than the others, and the dark brown and lighter grayish-orange scales on the forewing are nearly equally represented, which gives a distinctive coarse-grained appearance to the forewings. In most of the other species, the lighter scales tend to predominate. Glyphidocera democratica is most similar, but the terminal region of the forewing and fringe is heavily dusted with grayish-black scales and the first dark-brown spot is noticeably larger than the second (both are about the same size in G. juniperella).	Local populations are dependent on junipers as host plants, and presumably use both Southern Red Cedar and Eastern Red Cedar as hosts. The former is common on barrier islands where it can be found in maritime forests, on dunes, and along the edges of tidal marshes. Eastern Red Cedar tends to be an early successional species and prefers neutral soils. It is common along fencerows, old fields, rocky slopes, and in hardwood or mixed pine-hardwood forests with openings and relatively dry, thin soils.	Adamski and Brown (1987) described this species from larvae collected on cultivated Juniperus horizontalis. That species is native to the northern US and Canada, and red cedars seem like the most likely hosts in North Carolina. Glyphidocera juniperella is abundant at Fort Macon (J.B. Sullivan, pers. obs.), where Southern Red Cedar (Juniperus silicicola) is also common. Our other records come from farther west, where Eastern Red Cedar (J. virginiana) is the most likely host.	The adults are attracted to lights. Observations of host use are needed, so we recommend searching for larvae and rearing adults.		GNR S4S5	This species occurs statewide and appears to be relatively secure.
Salebriaria turpidella None MONA_number: 5771.00				Heppner (2007) lists oaks as the host plants in Florida. There are BugGuide records from George Smiley in Texas of larvae reared from Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata) and Bur Oak (Q. macrocarpa). We do not have any larval records in North Carolina.		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
sciName	taxonomic_comments	id_comments	habitat	food	observation_methods	state_protection	NHP_ranks	status_comments
Pococera baptisiella None MONA_number: 5619.00	The genus Pococera contains a taxonomically challenging group of species with many forms that are difficult to distinguish based on external morphology, coloration, and patterning. Rearing and knowledge of the host species can be helpful in a few instances, and some species can be identified based on external characteristics. However, we find many specimens from North Carolina that are challenging to assign to species with high confidence. The genitalia of species that have been examined from North Carolina are virtually identical and offer little help in sorting out species. DNA barcoding also offers little help since many of the established names show up in multiple BINs that likely reflect large numbers of misidentified specimens. Unfortunately, no one has any idea which of these specimens are accurately identified. A comprehensive study of North American members of the genus is clearly needed that will hopefully better delineate species boundaries and resolve some of the problems that hamper the accurate identification of specimens from within the state and elsewhere. At present, our assignment of specimens to certain species is best treated as provisional.			Larvae feed on species of Baptisia (Allyson, 1977) and apparently Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens) in the Midwest (BugGuide, MJ Hatfield).
Aethes ringsi Rings' Aethes MONA_number: 3780.00				Larval host plants appear to be unknown.		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR S3S4
Zomaria interruptolineana Broken-line Zomaria MONA_number: 2750.00		This is an easily-recognized tortricid, with resting adults having a reddish thoracic tuft and a broad, inverted, brownish, V-shaped pattern on the basal half of the forewing. The following detailed description is based in part on that of Fernald (1882). The head and palps are ashy gray, while the thorax is a light purplish-gray anteriorly and dark reddish-brown posteriorly, with a stout, dark reddish scale tuft. A light purplish-ashy band extends from the base of the inner margin of the forewing to the costa, where it gradually decreases in width and terminates near the middle of the costa. The purplish-ashy band is paralleled inwardly by a broad, dark, reddish-brown band. The band fades towards the inner margin, and is margined with a thin white line of scales on its outer and terminal margins. The band, along with the concolorous posterior portion of the thorax, produce a distinctive inverted V-shaped pattern on the basal half of the forewing of resting individuals. The remainder of the wing has rather complex patterning, with the most prominent marks being a dark reddish-brown medial fascia that extends inwards from the costa to near the middle of the wing. The fascia has two elongated teeth that extend posteriorly, with the innermost one often meeting a thin concolorous line that extends from the end of the tooth to the outer margin. Another prominent mark is a large, oblong, light reddish-brown patch along the inner margin near the medial fascia that is margined with whitish scales. The fringe is purplish-brown and the hindwings brown.	Most of our records come from residential neighborhoods. Some use of open shrubby areas appears to be true at some high elevation sites, such as the summit of Mt. Mitchell, Clingman's Dome, and Yellow Mountain. Records from the Sandhills may also come from areas where heaths are common. Elsewhere, however, the habitats used are less clear.	Larvae feed on shrubs in the heath and legume families (Brown et al., 2008), including blueberry (Vaccinium) and huckleberry (Gaylussacia) (Heinrich, 1926). In North Carolina, a larva has been reared from Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum).		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR S3S4
Ancylis virididorsana Olive Ancylis MONA_number: 3388.40				As of 2025, the species has been reared only twice that we are aware of and in both cases the larvae fed on Supplejack (Berchemia scandens).
Rupela tinctella Satin Rupela MONA_number: 5311.00	Heinrich (1937) examined the genitalia of what were thought to be two or three white species of Rupela and was surprised to find that these constituted a group of at least 18 cryptic species with very distinctive genitalia. Only two species are known from North Carolina and in most cases they require the examination of genitalia for identification.	Only two species of R. segrega are known from North Carolina. The males and females of R. segrega are identical, with both having an elongated abdomen and the head, thorax, abdomen, and wings white. In contrast, males of our second species, Rupela tinctella, are uniformly brown, while the females are white and indistinguishable from the males and females of R. segrega. Genitalia are required to identify the white forms, while any brown Rupela can be safely assigned to R. tinctella.		The hosts are apparently undocumented for most species in this genus, but two that have been recorded feed on grasses, including Echinochloa and (Heinrich, 1937).		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR SNR [S1S2]
sciName	taxonomic_comments	id_comments	habitat	food	observation_methods	state_protection	NHP_ranks	status_comments
Coenochroa bipunctella None MONA_number: 6041.00				The hosts are apparently undocumented.		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Acrolophus spilotus Spotted Grass Tubeworm Moth MONA_number: 382.10				The hosts appear to be undocumented.
Cosmopterix nitens MONA_number: 1469.00	We suspect that specimens that currently are recognized as C. nitens may be members of a species complex. Members of this group are distinctive in having the yellowish-orange fascia (patch) on the forewing divided longitudinally by a thick black line, but differ in the antennal banding. Cosmopterix nitens as described by Koster (2010) has five terminal white segments that are followed by 14 dark segments, then two white segments. However, specimens in North Carolina, and at certain other localities in the Southeast, often differ in having two white terminal segments that are followed by 7-8 dark segments, then two white segments. The two white segments are sometimes followed by two dark segments and an additional one or two white segments, so that there are 1-3 narrow white bands that are basal to the dark portion with 7-8 segments. There are some other differences, such as the fact that the anal line that extends from the orangish, middle fascia towards the apex is missing or poorly developed in what may be an undescribed species, but well-developed in true C. nitens. Members of this group were first found in North Carolina by Jeff Niznik in 2024 in Orange County and have since been found at a site in Richmond County. Cosmopterix nitens has been reported to specialize on Phragmites, but members of this genus do not occur at sites where we have collected specimens that we are currently recognizing as C. nitens. Until additional taxonomic studies are completed that address variation in this species, we continue to treat all for now as C. nitens.
Cosmopterix lespedezae None MONA_number: 1482.00		Cosmopterix lespedezae closely resembles several other Cosmopterix species (e.g., C. teligera) and cannot be identified with certainty using external characters (Koster, 2010). Accurate identification is best achieved by using genitalia or by rearing adults from host plants. The following description focuses on forewing and antenna patterning, and is based on a more detailed description presented by Koster (2010) that applies to both C. lespedezae and C. teligera. The head and dorsal thorax region have three white lines (two lateral; one medial). The scape is white below and dark brown above with a white anterior line. The antenna is dark brown, with a short white line at the base that changes into an interrupted line that extends to beyond one-half the wing length. This is followed towards the apex by the following sequence: six dark brown segments, two or three white segments, two dark brown segments, two white segments, ten dark brown segments, and eight white segments at the apex. The forewing is dark brown with four narrow white lines in the basal area. These consist of 1) a subcostal line that extends from the base to one-quarter of the wing length and bends away from the costa in the distal half, 2) a short medial line that is above the fold in the center and under the apex of the subcostal, 3) a subdorsal line that is about twice as long as the medial, but slightly further from the base, and 4) a short and very narrow dorsal line from beyond the base to one-quarter the length of the wing. The white lines in the basal area can differ in length, especially the subcostal which starts from the base in the North American specimens and beyond the base in the Neotropical ones. An orange-yellow fascia is present just beyond the middle that narrows towards the dorsum. The facia has a narrow apical protrusion, and is bordered at the inner edge by a tubercular silver to pale golden metallic fascia. There is a small subcostal patch of blackish brown scales on the outside. The outer edge of the orange-yellow fascia is bordered by two tubercular, silver or pale golden, metallic costal and dorsal spots. The dorsal spot is more than three times as large as the costal spot and more towards the base. Both spots are irregularly lined with dark brown on the inside. The transverse fascia, tubercular fascia, and spots are variable in width. There is a narrow white costal streak that extends from the costal spot to the costa. Finally, there is a white apical line that extends from or just beyond the apical protrusion to the cilia. This line is sometimes interrupted in the middle. The cilia are dark brown, but paler towards the dorsum. The hindwing is brownish gray and the cilia brown. Although C. lespedezae cannot be reliably distinguished from certain other Cosmopterix based on external morphology, the leaf mines are distinctive.	Populations are primary associated with early successional or open woodland habitats that support the host species.	The hosts are poorly documented, but include several genera of legumes, including Lespedeza and Desmodium (Eiseman, 2022). In North Carolina, adults have been reared from Desmodium, including Velvety Tick-trefoil (D. viridiflorum).	We recommend searching for the rather distinctive leaf mines and rearing the adults.		GNR S2S4	This species was only recently discovered in North Carolina and we currently do not have sufficient information to determine its conservation status.
Pelochrista pallidipalpana None MONA_number: 3153.00	Pelochrista is a large Holarctic genus of tortricids with around 75% of the 226 described species being native to North America (Wright and Gilligan, 2017). The highest species richness occurs in the western half of North America. The genus has a long and confusing taxonomic history, with many of the species formerly placed in the genus Eucosma. Gilligan et al. (2014) conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Pelochrista, Eucosma, and related genera and redefined the genus Eucosma and Pelochrista based on differences in female genitalia. The great majority of Pelochrista species are known only from adults, which likely reflects the fact that the larvae of most species bore into stem bases and roots and are concealed from view. Members of the Asteraceae are the likely hosts for most species (Wright and Gilligan, 2017), but much work need to be done to identifying the hosts.	This is a small, broad-winged species of Pelochrista with a distinctive forewing patterning that has brownish-gold to pale fawn interfascial areas and dark brown markings (Kearfott, 1905a; Wright and Gilligan, 2017). The head has long loose scales in the front and on top that are pale ocherish at the base and pure white at the tips. The second joint of the labial palp has long loose white scales that conceal the third segment and that are shaded basally and outwardly with pale ocherish (Kearfott, 1905a). The wing has a light brownish-golden or pale fawn ground that is broken into large irregular patches by narrower dark brown markings. The dark marking tend to form a broadly reticulate pattern across the wing, with some individuals having narrow irregular sub-basal and median bands of sorts that are connected by two longitudinal streaks. They sometimes have a faint whitish incomplete margin. The ocellus is well defined, with metallic gray bars on the lateral margins and three black dashes crossing a golden central field (Wright and Gilligan, 2017). The termen and fringe has a salt-and-pepper-colored band from the tornus to the apex, and the costa has a series of conspicuous white strigulae that are delimited by short blackish-brown dashes. The hindwing is brown with paler cilia and the tarsi are annulated with light brown.	Our records come from open woodlands. One record is from a stand of dry-xeric scrub oaks but the other three are from wetter sites, including a sandhill seep, a streamhead peatland with White Cedars, and a wet Longleaf Pine savanna. One historic record comes from an unknown habitat in the vicinity of Tryon at the edge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment.	The host plants are unknown.	The adults are attracted to lights.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR S2S3
sciName	taxonomic_comments	id_comments	habitat	food	observation_methods	state_protection	NHP_ranks	status_comments
Aroga argutiola None MONA_number: 2184.00		The following description is based on that of Hodges (1974a). The maxillary palp is gray. The outer surface of the first segment and base of the second segment of the labial palp are gray, while the inner surface of the first and second segments are mainly white. The scale brush on the second segment is pale orange to red-orange, while the third segment is mainly dark gray with yellowish-white scales at the base, anterior margin, apex, and sometimes elsewhere. The frons is white with a row of gray-brown scales in front of the eye, and the vertex and occiput are gray. The antenna is dark gray. The dorsal surfaces of the thorax, tegula, and forewing are dark gray. There is a patch of white scales on the costa at three-fourths the wing length, and often one on the posterior margin at three-fourths the wing length. A few white scales are often present on the fold, just before and just beyond one-half the length of the fold. A few white scales are also present at two-thirds to three-fourths the length of the cell, and at the end of the cell. The fringe is mainly pale gray. The hindwing is mainly pale yellowish gray above, with yellow more intense on the outer third of the wing. The legs are mainly dark gray, with off-white to whitish markings. Hodges (1974a) noted that A. trialbamaculella, Aroga argutiola and A. epigaeella cannot be distinguished based on external appearance, but can be identified using genitalia.	The majority of our records come from open heathland habitats in the Coastal Plain, including maritime dunes, flatwoods, and sand-ridges. One historic record comes from the vicinity of Highlands, where upland heath thickets are likely to be the habitat used by this species.	According to Hodges (1974a), the larvae feed on Sweet-fern (Comptonia peregrina), as well as several genera of ericaceous plants. These include Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), Gaultheria, huckleberries (Gaylussacia), blueberries (Vaccinium) and Small Cranberry (V. oxycoccus). We have one rearing record for a larva collected from a blueberry (Hodges, 1974a).	The adults come to lights and have been successfully reared from larvae taken from leaf-folds in the host plants.		GNR [S2S3]
Diploschizia lanista None MONA_number: 2345.00		Differs from D. impigritella by possessing four rather than five white marks on the forewing costa (Heppner, 1985)		The hosts are apparently undocumented.
Dichomeris costarufoella None MONA_number: 2293.00				Larvae have been reared on coneflowers (Rudbeckia spp.) (Hodges, 1986).
Dichomeris fistuca None MONA_number: 2295.10				Larval host plants appear to be unknown (Hodges, 1986).			GNR S2S4
Catastega timidella Oak Trumpet Skeletonizer Moth MONA_number: 3333.00		This species was originally described based on the larvae and larval cases, and a detailed description of the adults is lacking other than that of Forbes (1923). The adult are similar in overall size and coloration to certain Gretchena species, and are mostly reliably assigned to genus based on their distinctive genitalia (Brown, 1986; Gilligan et al., 2008). The forewing is weakly bicolored longitudinally, with the costal area brownish, and the whitish dorsal area lined with fuscous (Heinrich, 1923). The whitish coloration along the dorsal margin tends to weakly extend towards the dorsal margin to about one-third the wing length, then angle sharply inward to about the mid-wing, before again angling weakly towards the dorsal margin. It eventually becomes ill-defined in the apical third. The legs are banded and the costa is outwardly striate. A dark, pre-tornal triangular spot is present that often has two blackish spots at or just beyond its apex. Two or three small dark dots are also often present along the dorsal margin anterior to the pre-tornal triangular spot. The apical fringe has a dark line that is cut in places by whitish coloration (Brown, 1986; Forbes, 1923). This species tends to have a more conspicuously bicolored forewing relative to both Gretchena spp. and C. aceriella, which is not bicolored and has a prominent sub-basal transverse band that extends from the middle of the wing to the inner margin at an oblique angle. Both of our Catastega species produce distinctive tubular frass cases on the undersides of leaves and have different hosts (oaks versus maples) that allow reliable identifications to species. Many of our locality records are based on larval records.	Local populations are strongly dependent on oaks as hosts and are associated with hardwood or mixed hardwood-pine forests. They can also be found in residential areas where oaks are present.	Catastega timidella uses oaks as hosts (Eiseman, 2019), including White Oak (Quercus alba), Burr Oak (Q. macrocarpa), and Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra). This species was found on a walnut (Juglans sp.) and a birch (Betula sp.) in Canada (Miller 1987), but these taxa are presumably almost never used as hosts. In North Carolina, we have records from Northern Red Oak and White Oak.	The adults occasionally visit lights and the fecal tubes can be found beneath silk sheets on the undersides of leaves. Acrobasis minimella is another oak feeder that produces fecal tubes, but these are larger and much more sinuous that those of C. timidella.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR [S3S4]	This species is far less frequently encountered in the state than is C. aceriella, but appears to be relatively secure due to its statewide distribution and use of oaks as hosts.
sciName	taxonomic_comments	id_comments	habitat	food	observation_methods	state_protection	NHP_ranks	status_comments
Anacampsis lupinella Lupine Leafroller Moth MONA_number: 2242.00				Forbes (1923) lists lupine (Lupinus) and Godfrey et al. (1987) list White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba) as host plants. There is also a BugGuide record of a larva feeding on Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina.			GNR S1S2
Tineidae new species No. 2 MONA_number: 434.97
Tornos cinctarius None MONA_number: 6485.00	One of seven species in this New World genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Rindge, 1954), three of which have been recorded in North Carolina	A medium-sized, dark brown Geometrid, with narrow, elongated wings held horizontally at rest. Unlike other members of this genus, sexes are identical in color and pattern. The ground color of the forewings is ochraceous, overlain and somewhat mottled with dark brown. Both the antemedian and postmedian lines are black and prominent; the discal spot is dull black and elongated (Rindge, 1954). Tornos colopacinaria and T. abjectarius are similar in size and form but are lighter in color, have less prominent lines, and are sexually dimorphic.	All of our records come from Longleaf Pine dominated habitats or from stands of hardwoods either embedded or adjoining Longleaf habitats. With respect to moisture regimes, habitats include both xeric sandhills and wet savannas.	Host plants are unknown (Rindge, 1954).	Appears to come well to blacklights.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR SU [S2S3]	This species appears to be strongly associated with Longleaf Pine habitats. These habitats have undergone a reduction in range of 90% or more since colonial times and are still being converted to silviculture and other uses and particularly to the effects of suppression of the natural fire regime upon which they depend. Our records for this species all come from areas where these habitats still occupy large landscapes where a relatively natural fire regime - augmented by prescribed burning - still persists. Although knowledge of the host plants used by this species would help refine our understanding of its conservation needs, this species appears to be fairly rare even within its preferred habitats and probably should be listed as Significantly Rare in North Carolina.
Aristotelia monilella None MONA_number: 1748.00	The genus Aristotelia contains over 150 species of small moths that are found worldwide, with around 34 species in North America.	This is a distinctively marked Aristotelia, with three bold white marks on the forewing. The following is based on the original description by Barnes and Busck (1920). The labial palp is white, and the second joint has an indistinct brown annulation near the tip. The terminal joint has two broad, blackish brown annulations. The face, head and collar are yellowish white, and the thorax is golden brown. The forewing ground color is light golden brown. At the basal fourth there is a white transverse streak that is outwardly oblique. It is widest on the costa and becomes attenuated towards the dorsum, where it does not quite reach the dorsal edge. On the middle of the costa there is a triangular white spot that is equilateral, and reaches to the middle of the wing. At the apical fourth there is an inwardly directed triangular white streak that reaches to about the middle of the wing. All of these white marks terminate on the dorsal edge in small white spots. The apical and terminal edges of the wing are broadly velvety black, with conspicuous tufts of metallic blue scales around the margin. The cilia are dark brown with white tips. The undersides of both wings are brown, and both have a large white spot at the apical fourth. The abdomen is black, with each joint tipped with silvery white. The legs are dark brown, with white bars and tarsal annulations.	The habitat was not reported by Barnes and Busck (1920). As of 2022, all of our records are from the Sandhills and associated with xeric communities.	The host plants are unknown.	The adults appear to only rarely visit lights, although all three of our records are for specimens at lights.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR S1S2	This species was described from North Carolina and until 2021 had not been seen in the state for over 100 years. The recent rediscovery of the species in the Sandhills indicates that extant populations are still present and perhaps restricted to the Sandhills.
Epiblema glaseri None MONA_number: 3183.10		The following description is based on that of Wright and Gilligan (2023). In this species the third segment of the labial palp is black, while the lateral surface of the second segment is tan with an elongate black mark near the dorsal margin. The lateral surface of the first segment has a black mark. The lower frons is white, while the upper frons and vertex are orangish-brown. The antenna is brown with black marks on the pedicel and scape. The thorax is gray above, with a blackish transverse line on each thoracic segment. The tegula is pale gray with a conspicuous black mark near the base and an obscure blackish mark near the tip. The forewing dorsal surface is dark brownish-gray with blackish-brown markings, and sometimes with orangish tints in the sub-basal and pretornal marks. The sub-basal mark is quadrate and extends from the inner margin to the cell. It usually has black edging on the lateral margins. The median fascia is vaguely defined as a gray band that extends from the mid-costa to the inner margin, and is overlaid with various black marks. The latter including a mid-costal bar and a prominent triangular pretornal mark. The postmedian fascia is prominent. It is thin near the costa and expands anterior to the ocellus. The ocellus has gray bands on the lateral margins and two black marks on the central field. The paired costal strigulae beyond the midwing are white and prominent, and the termen has a narrow salt-and-pepper colored band. Wright and Gilligan (2023) noted that E. glaseri resembles E. exacerbatricana in size and forewing shape. The forewing differs from the latter in being darker and more mottled, and in having an orangish versus a gray head in E. exacerbatricana.	Our very limited records are all from xeric communities in the Sandhills.	The hosts are undocumented.	The adults are attracted to lights.		GNR[S1S2]	This is a seemingly rare species in North Carolina that is only known from three sites in the Sandhills as of 2024. The nearest known population is in Georgia.
sciName	taxonomic_comments	id_comments	habitat	food	observation_methods	state_protection	NHP_ranks	status_comments
Endothenia hebesana Verbena Bud Moth MONA_number: 2738.00				Larvae are polyphagous. Reported hosts include foxglove (Aureolaria), larkspur (Delphinium), Soapwort Gentian (Gentiana saponaria), irises, beardtongue (Penstemon), false-dragonhead (Physostegia), Purple Pitcherplant (Sarracenia purpurea), skullcap (Scutellaria), goldenrod (Solidago), hedge-nettle (Stachys), American Germander (Teucrium canadense), mullein (Verbascum), and vervain (Verbena) (MacKay, 1959; Gilligan & Epstein, 2014). In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded on Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma).		Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR S4S5
Pococera asperatella Maple Webworm Moth MONA_number: 5606.00	The genus Pococera contains a taxonomically challenging group of species with many forms that are difficult to distinguish based on external morphology, coloration, and patterning. Rearing and knowledge of the host species can be helpful in a few instances, and some species can be identified based on external characteristics. However, we find many specimens from North Carolina that are challenging to assign to species with high confidence. The genitalia of species that have been examined from North Carolina are virtually identical and offer little help in sorting out species. DNA barcoding also offers little help since many of the established names show up in multiple BINs that likely reflect large numbers of misidentified specimens. Unfortunately, no one has any idea which of these specimens are accurately identified. A comprehensive study of North American members of the genus is clearly needed that will hopefully better delineate species boundaries and resolve some of the problems that hamper the accurate identification of specimens from within the state and elsewhere. At present, our assignment of specimens to certain species is best treated as provisional.		Our records come mainly from mesic hardwood forests, including cove forests and northern hardwoods in the Blue Ridge, mesic slopes and residential areas in the Piedmont, and shoreline areas in the Coastal Plain.	The larvae are polyphagous, feeding on hardwood trees in a number of different families, but particularly maples (Schaffner, 1959; Giese et al., 1964; Prentice, 1966; Allyson, 1977; Covell, 1984; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010; Marquis et al., 2019). The reported hosts include Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Sugar Maple (A. saccharum), Silver Maple (A. saccharinum), Mountain Maple (A. spicatum), American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), hickories (Carya spp.), Common Waxmyrtle (Morella cerifera), American Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides), White Oak (Quercus alba), Post Oak (Q. stellata), Black Oak (Q. velutina), Live Oak (Q. virginiana), Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina), and American Elm (Ulmus americana). Marquis et al. (2019) noted that Pococera expandens was at one time considered to be a synonym of P. asperatella, so that some of the earlier records for oaks should be interpreted cautiously. In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded feeding on Pignut Hickory (C. glabra), Sugar Maple, and Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica).	The adults are attracted to lights. More information is needed on host use in North Carolina.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR S4
Pyrausta subsequalis Mottled Pyrausta MONA_number: 5060.00		This wide-ranging species exhibits substantial individually, seasonally, sexually and geographic variation. Munroe (1976) recognized four subspecies, with Pyrausta s. subsequalis occurring in the eastern U.S. The following description in based on those of Forbes (1923) and Monroe (1976) for the eastern subspecies. Female and males are sexually dimorphic with regards to coloration and clarity of patterning. For females, the forewing ground color ranges from ocherous-yellow to dull- orange. The antemedial line is wavy, while the postmedial line is sinuous. The orbicular and reniform spots are black and conspicuous, and the median area of the wing is often suffused with black. The subterminal region has a broad dark shade that either narrows or is interrupted in the middle. It is followed by a band of ground color and a thin terminal line at the base of the black fringe. The hindwing is bright orange, with a large black discal dot. There are two outer black bands that parallel the outer margin, and the fringe is black. In males, the forewing ground color is brown and often scaled with dull red. The hindwing is black, with short postmedial and terminal orange lines only. For both sexes, the most useful field traits are the conspicuous black orbicular and reniform spots, the broad, dark subterminal shade that either narrows or is interrupted in the middle, and the banded hindwings.		The host plants are poorly documented, but include members of three families of flowering plants (Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010; Beadle and Leckie, 2018). The reported hosts include thistles (Cirsium and Carduus spp.), including Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare), a mint (Mentha sp.), and Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).	The adults are commonly seen in the open during the day either resting on vegetation or nectaring on low-growing plants. They also occasionally attracted to lights.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Hyperstrotia aetheria None MONA_number: 9036.00	One of five species in this genus found in North America north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010, 2015), all of which have been recorded in North Carolina	A small, white, black, and brown marked Graylet. The ground color is white to pale gray. The antemedian and postmedian lines are both pure white, narrow, and edged medially by black. A solid black spot is located on the costa just before the antemedian line and one or two small dark discal spots are present, along with a row of small black terminal spots. The median area is variably shaded with gray or brown, joining a darker patch that extends from the costa just before the apex to the postmedian line. Hindwings are fuscous (see Grote, 1897 and Forbes, 1954 for more details). Other members of this genus are similar in size and coloration but usually do not have solid, contrastingly black patches along the costa, although more diffuse gray patches may occur in the same location.	Our records come primarily from Pine-Scrub Oak Sandhills, with a few from other types of dry oak woodlands. Most come from sites with loamy soils, supporting stands of Bluejack, Scrubby Post Oak, and Blackjack Oaks. Records from Cabarrus County may be associated with Blackjack Oaks, but the moth has not been found in other areas in the Piedmont where that species occurs.	Host plants are apparently undocumented but one of the more xerophytic oaks seems likely, including Blackjack, Bluejack, or Scrubby Post Oak.	All of our records come from blacklight traps or sheets.	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.	GNR S3?	This species appears to have a restricted geographic range in North Carolina and occupies a narrow range of habitats. Further information is needed on its host plants and its distribution within the Outer Coastal Plain before its conservation status can be accurately estimated.
Cisthene subjecta Subject Lichen Moth MONA_number: 8071.00	One of twenty species in this genus that occur in North America, five of which have been recorded in North Carolina	Dark gray with a thin yellow line along the costa and another located above the inner margin; two pink to cherry red spots project downward from both of these lines in the postmedian area; unlike the similar but slightly larger Cisthene packardii, there is no patch of yellow located on the upper side of the line above the inner margin.	Strongly associated with dry-to-xeric Coastal Plain habitats, particularly maritime forests and scrub and Coastal Fringe Sandhills; occurs farther inland also in association with sandridges in the Coastal Plain and dry upland habitats in the eastern Piedmont. Although there are a very few records from floodplain habitats, these were obtained from dry floodplain ridges or from portions of the floodplains that adjoin sandy uplands.	Like most Lithosiines, probably feeds on lichens, bark algae, and cyanobacteria (Covell, 1984; Wagner, 2005). Based on its xeric habitat associations, the main hosts are likely to be tree lichens associated with xerophytic hardwoods.	Comes well but usually in small numbers to blacklights; none of our records come from bait	Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands	G5 SNR [S3S4]	A relatively uncommon species and associated with a fairly narrowly distributed habitat. It is, however, widely-enough distributed that it is reasonably secure in the state. However, some of its favored habitats along the barrier islands and coastal fringe sandhills are likely to be lost due to sea level rise.