Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFOecophoridae Members:
Carolana Members:
5 NC Records

Carolana ascriptella (Busck, 1908) - No Common Name


Taxonomy
Family: OecophoridaeSubfamily: OecophorinaeTribe: OecophoriniP3 Number: 420058.00 MONA Number: 1062.00
Comments: Carolana is a small genus with only two recognized species that are found in North America.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Clarke (1941); Hodges (1974)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based on that of Clarke (1941). The labial palp, antenna, face, head, thorax, and forewing are straw colored and shining. The second segment of the labial palp is shaded with blackish fuscous exteriorly on the basal half, while the antenna is indistinctly and narrowly annulated with fuscous. The forewing is speckled with blackish fuscous. The base of the costa is blackish fuscous (rarely faint or missing), and there is a large blackish fuscous spot at the basal third in the cell, along with a second at the end of the cell at about two-thirds. The elongated cilia are straw colored and more ocherous basally. They are prominent on fresh specimens, particularly on the apical half of the inner margin. The hindwing is pale light fuscous and the elongated cilia are ocherous basally, but fade to straw color outwardly. The legs are straw colored and strongly overlaid with blackish fuscous exteriorly, except at the joints and on the hind tibia and tarsus. The abdomen is shining whitish-ochreous.
Wingspan: 9-12 mm (Clarke, 1941)
Forewing Length: 3.5-5.0 mm (Hodges, 1974)
Adult Structural Features: Clarke (1941) and Hodges (1974) have descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented. Hodges (1974) surmised that the larvae feed beneath bark on decaying wood, but this remains unverified.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Carolana ascriptella in found in eastern North America. The range extends from southern Canada (Ontario and Quebec) and the New England states westward to Illinois and Michigan, and southward to Maryland, eastern Tennessee and North Carolina. An apparent disjunct is in northern Arkansas. As of 2020, we have records for the lower elevations in the mountains and the Piedmont.
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: This species is univoltine, with adults on the wing from June through August. As of 2020, our records are from late June through late July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats are unknown. All of our records as of 2020 are from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: Hodges (1974) surmised that the larvae feed beneath bark on decaying wood. - View
Observation Methods: All records to date are based on adults that were attracted at lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU
State Protection:
Comments: We currently do not have sufficient information on the distribution and abundance of the species in the state to assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Carolana ascriptella - No common name

Photos: 2

Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-06-25
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2015-07-20
Wake Co.
Comment: