Moths of North Carolina
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4 NC Records

Fabiola tecta Braun, 1935 - No Common Name

Fabiola tectaFabiola tecta
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: OecophoridaeSubfamily: OecophorinaeTribe: OecophoriniP3 Number: 59a0047 MONA Number: 1051.00
Comments: Fabiola is a small genus with seven recognized species, including five in North America and two in the Old World.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Clarke (1941); Hodges (1974)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is primarily based on the description by Braun (1935). The face is silvery gray and the head and thorax dark brown. The second segment of the labial palp is white, while the third is black except at the base. The antenna is dark brown, with the bases of the segments paler. The forewing is golden yellow and overlaid with brown scales along the extreme margins, and at the base below the fold. At the basal fourth there is a fascia that does not quite reach either margin and progressively narrows from the dorsal margin to the costa. The fascia is metallic in its costal half, white and dilated in its dorsal half, and the whole edged with black scales. At the apical fourth there is a triangular white costal spot. Opposite it and slightly nearer the base, there is a similar dorsal spot. Both extend out into the cilia, and are connected by a metallic blue band. Collectively, they form an oblique fascia that is heavily margined with black scales inwardly at its extremities, and narrowly on both sides of the metallic central part. Between these two fascias lies an area with broad velvety black streaks that are intermixed with the golden ground color. Between the fascias there are three longitudinal metallic blue streaks. In the narrow part below the fold, there is a metallic blue spot. The wing margin and cilia beyond the second pale fascia are dark brown, with a white patch of cilia opposite the apex. The hindwing and cilia are dark bronzy, and the extreme base and costal area for one-half the wing length white. The legs are dark brown and barred with white, and the abdomen is dark brown. This species is similar to F. shaleriella but is smaller, has a different pattern of metallic-blue streaks between the fascia, and has a differently placed fascia at three-fourths (Braun, 1935; Clarke, 1941).
Wingspan: 9-10 mm (Clarke, 1941)
Adult Structural Features: (Clarke, 1941) has a description and illustration of the male genitalia. The genitalia are similar to F. shaleriella, but with the harpe broader, the cucullus more acutely pointed, and with the lobes of the tegumen shorter and more bluntly pointed.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae have never been observed and the larvae life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Very few specimens have been recorded for this species and all are from either Kentucky or western North Carolina. Our records are from low to high elevation sites in the mountains.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
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: Populations are univoltine. All of the known records are from June and July, including those for North Carolina.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Almost all records are from forested sites, including sites with both upland hardwoods and spruce-fir forest (Mt. Mitchell).
Larval Host Plants: The larvae have never been discovered and the hosts are unknown. The larvae are suspected of being detritivores that feed on dead plant material (Hodges, 1974). - View
Observation Methods: The adults rarely visit lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This is a seemingly rare species with only a small number of specimens that have been found in Kentucky and North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Fabiola tecta - No common name

Photos: 2

Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, L. Owenby on 2016-06-28
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, L. Owenby on 2016-06-28
Yancey Co.
Comment: