Moths of North Carolina
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144 NC Records

Autosticha kyotensis (Matsumura, 1931) - Kyoto Moth

Autosticha kyotensisAutosticha kyotensisAutosticha kyotensisAutosticha kyotensis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Peleopodidae		Subfamily:
Autostichinae		P3 Number:
59a0001		 MONA Number:
1010.10
Species Status: Autosticha kyotensis is native to Japan and has become widespread in the southeastern US since its introduction.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Ueda (1997)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based on the description by Ueda (1997). The head is grayish buff and the individual scales are tipped with pale fuscous. The antenna is yellowish ocherous with narrow pale fuscous annulations. The labial palp is yellowish ocherous and the second segment is strongly speckled with fuscous. The third segment is largely unmarked. The thorax and forewing are ocherous, and the tips of individual scales are pale fuscous which produces a finely irrorated effect. There are two dark spots at about two-fifths the wing length. The outer (discal) is often larger than the inner. A second discal spot occurs at about three-fifths that is often faint and somewhat bilobed longitudinally. A series of 4-5 fuscous spots occur along the termen and continue parallel to the costa to about the apical fifth. A diffuse fuscous spot or dusting of dark scales is sometimes evident just anterior to the tornus. The cilia are ocherous with a fuscous sub-basal shade. The hindwing is pale shining brownish gray, and the abdomen grayish buff. The legs are yellowish ocherous and strongly speckled with pale fuscous.

This species closely resembles Glyphidocera dimorphella and G. septentrionella, but these species tend to have a lighter background coloration with scattered darker specks, versus a straw color and a more uniformly fine-grained pattern for Autosticha. The pair of anterior spots on Glyphidocera slant diagonally, with the inner spot more anterior. Those of Autosticha do not and are about the same distance from a reference point such as the wing base. Finally, the thorax and forewings of Autosticha tend to have a finely roughened texture, while those of G. dimorphella and G. septentrionella are smoother with a somewhat shiny appearance. Autosticha kyotensis also closely resembles a third species, G. juniperella, but has a much more distinct line of relatively large terminal spots.
Forewing Length: 6.1-8.3 mm (Ueda, 1997).
Adult Structural Features: Ueda (1997) has detailed descriptions and illustrations of the genitalia.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Very little is known about the larval life history.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Autosticha kyotensis is widespread in the southeastern US and vicinity. It occurs from southern Maryland and Virginia southward to Florida and westward to western Arkansas and central Texas. A few scattered populations occur farther north. All of our records are from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Autosticha kyotensis
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Adults are most active during the warmer months of the year. As of 2020, our records extend from May through mid-November.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The hosts plants in the US are unknown. Most of our records are from residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: This species uses Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodora) and Japanese Apricot (Prunus mume) in Japan (Ueda, 1997). The hosts that are used in the US are unknown. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SE
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This is an introduced species that does not merit protection.

 Photo Gallery for Autosticha kyotensis - Kyoto Moth

143 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-25
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-25
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-19
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-03
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-03
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-02
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Brian Bockhahn, Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-31
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-10-13
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-10-08
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-06
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-28
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-22
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-06
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-31
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2024-08-29
Union Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-31
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-11
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-11
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-26
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-20
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-20
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-18
Lincoln Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-11
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Tracy Feldman, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Patrick Coin, Becky Watkins on 2024-06-08
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-07
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-26
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-26
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-10-13
Durham Co.
Comment: