Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

View PDF	Oecophoridae Members:	Fabiola Members:	7 NC Records
Fabiola edithella (Busck, 1907) - Edith's Fabiola

Taxonomy

Superfamily: Gelechioidea	Family: Oecophoridae	Subfamily: Oecophorinae	Tribe: Oecophorini	P3 Number: 59a0049	MONA Number: 1053.00
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, BOLD	Technical Description, Adults: Hodges (1974)
Adult Markings: The following is based primarily on the description by Buscke (1907) and Clarke (1941). The labial palp is yellowish white, with fuscous scaling outwardly on third segment and the tip of the second segment. The face whitish, and the head, antenna, thorax, and abdomen dark brown to black. The tip of the antenna is silvery white. The forewing and hindwing are dark brown. The base of the forewing is golden yellow, and there is a median longitudinal light golden streak that begins at about one-third and ends well before the apex. A lateral lobe extends from this streak towards the costa about mid-way and has a bluish metallic dash on both sides. At the basal third there is a transverse golden band which does not quite reach the costal edge and joins the basal end of the longitudinal light golden streak. Between the base and the band there is a transverse, perpendicular, metallic, blue-tinged fascia that expands and becomes white near the dorsal margin to resemble a white blotch. The cilia of the both wings are dark brown. The front leg is yellowish with fuscous outwardly. The middle leg is yellowish with the tibia fuscous outwardly on the distal half. The hind leg is grayish exteriorly and yellowish inwardly.
Wingspan: 9-11 mm (Clarke, 1941)
Forewing Length: 3.5-4.5 (Hodges, 1974)
Adult Structural Features: Clarke (1941) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae have never been collected and the life history is undocumented.

Distribution in North Carolina


Distribution: Fabiola edithella is found in eastern North America where the range extends from Maine, New Hampshire and adjoining areas of Canada (Ontario: Quebec) westward and southward to Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and central Mississippi.
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. Most adults are in flight from May through July, with a seasonal peak in June. As of 2020, we have records from mid-May in the Coastal Plain through early September in the mountains.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The habitat is poorly documented.

Larval Host Plants: The hosts are unknown, but the larvae are suspected of being detritivores that feed on dead plant material (Hodges, 1974). - View

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species is seemingly uncommon within the state, but we need additional information on its distribution and abundance before we can assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Fabiola edithella - Edith's Fabiola		Photos: 4
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25 Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2022-05-31 Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-06-10 Warren Co. Comment:

Fabiola edithella (Busck, 1907) - Edith's Fabiola

Photo Gallery for Fabiola edithella - Edith's Fabiola

Photos: 4