Moths of North Carolina
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118 NC Records

Antaeotricha humilis (Zeller, 1855) - Dotted Antaeotricha

Antaeotricha humilisAntaeotricha humilisAntaeotricha humilisAntaeotricha humilis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Depressariidae		Subfamily:
Stenomatinae		Tribe:
[Stenomatini]		P3 Number:
59a0232		 MONA Number:
1019.00		 Other Common Name:
Dotted Bird-dropping Moth
Comments: The genus Antaeotricha is endemic to the New World and includes nearly 400 species of mostly neotropical species. Twenty species are currently recognized in North America.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Duckworth (1964)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Marquis et al. (2019)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based primarily on descriptions by Forbes (1923) and Duckworth (1964). The face is white and sprinkled with brown, while the labial palp is similar but only sprinkled with brown exteriorly. The ground color of the head, thorax, antenna, and forewing varies from ashy gray to grayish brown, with the latter more typical of females. The forewing has a rather complex series of marks that are variable, in part depending on the degree of wear. The following is a general description of the major features, but expect variation among individuals. Two small longitudinal streaks are present at the extreme based of the wing. Beginning at about one-fifth the wing length there is a series of two or three spots that begin at the costa and slant posteriorly towards an inverted V-shaped or U-shaped mark that adjoins the inner margin. At about two-thirds there is a second series of one to three spots and an accompanying jagged narrow streak. These are on the inner half of the wing and run roughly perpendicular to the inner margin. The costal margin has two additional small dark blotches at about one-half and four-fifths. The later usually connects to a faint, curved, subterminal band that arches towards the inner margin. At the wing tip, there is a line of fine dark spots that extends from the inner margin along the base of the fringe, then around the apex where it terminates near the costal blotch at four-fifths. The hindwing and cilia are light tan and darker than the forewings, while the abdomen is whitish ocherous. The foreleg is brown with the tarsi ringed with white. The midleg is white with scattered brown mottling, and the hindleg is mostly white.
Wingspan: 12-15 mm (Duckworth, 1964)
Adult Structural Features: Duckworth (1964) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The following summary of the larval life history is based largely on studies in Missouri by Marquis et al. (2019) and Carroll and Kearby (1978). The larvae specialize on oaks and the early instars are gregarious. There are six instars and two generations per year in Missouri, with larvae present from May to July, and again from late August to November. The early instar larvae are leaf rollers in spring, but later bind two overlapping leaves together with silk and form winding tunnels of frass and silk between leaves during mid to late summer. They typically only feed on the lower leaf surface within the bound leaves. Larvae in the autumn overwinter in leaf litter beneath oak trees. The mature larva has a tan head above that lacks markings and a single genal stripe. The first two thoracic segments are blackish and there a series of brownish scalloped marks along each side of the body. Marquis et al. (2019) provide detailed descriptions of the larvae, and delineate features that will distinguish this species from other Antaeotricha that occur in the eastern US.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Antaeotricha humilis is found throughout much of the eastern US from Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois southward to the Gulf Coast and Florida. The range extends west to central Oklahoma and central Texas. A single record is known from southwestern Ontario. As of 2020, we have records from all areas of the state except for the higher elevations in the mountains.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Antaeotricha humilis
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Immature 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 have been recorded from March through October in different areas of the range. Most local populations appear to be bivoltine with the first brood in early to mid-summer and a second in late-summer or early fall. Populations in North Carolina are bivoltine, with the season peaks in adults occurring in mid-May through early June, and again in mid-July through early August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is an oak specialist and uses numerous species that inhabit a diversity of habitats. The host species inhabitat sites that range from wet bottomland forests, to sandy, xeric sites in the Coastal Plain, as well as more mesic to dry sites in the Piedmont and lower mountains.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae specialize on oaks and use numerous species. Hosts listed by Robinson et al. (2010), Heppner (2003) and Marquis et al. (2019) include White Oak (Quercus alba), Bear Oak (Q. ilicifolia), Shingle Oak (Q. imbricaria), Laurel Oak (Q. laurifolia), Turkey Oak (Q. laevis), Blackjack Oak (Q. marilandica), Chinquapin Oak (Q. muehlenbergii), Water Oak (Q. nigra), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra), Black Oak (Q. velutina) and Live Oak (Q. virginiana). As of 2024, we have one record of a larva feeding between two bound leaves of Willow Oak (Q. phellos). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Populations occur statewide and appear to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Antaeotricha humilis - Dotted Antaeotricha

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

Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-22
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-22
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
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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, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-08
Harnett Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-08
Harnett Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stefanie Hedrick on 2024-08-29
Union Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-13
Pamlico Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-08
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-04
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-31
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-26
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-12
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-12
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Patrick Coin, Mark Basinger on 2024-06-16
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-14
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-13
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-13
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-14
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-02
Madison Co.
Comment: