Moths of North Carolina

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Oegoconia novimundi (Busck, 1915) - Four-spotted Yellowneck Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Autostichidae

Subfamily:
Symmocinae

Tribe:
[Symmocini]

P3 Number:
59a0002

MONA Number:
1134.00

MONA Synonym:
Oegoconia quadripuncta

Comments: Oegoconia is a genus with 13 recognized species that are native to the Old World; two of these have been introduced into the US.

Species Status: Oegoconia novimundi was previously treated as a junior synonym of O. quadripuncta. However, the two are distinct species and O. quadripuncta appears to be only found in the Old World. A second species, O. deauratella, was introduced to North America and can only be separated from O. novimundi by using molecular markers or genitalia (Landry et al., 2013). The range of O. deauratella in North America is currently limited to southern Canada and the northern US (Michigan; Vermont; Massachusetts), and it is uncertain whether this species will be able to survive as far south as North Carolina. We are currently treating all Oegoconia collected from the state as Oegoconia novimundi.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Busck 1915; Forbes, 1923; Landry et al., 2013

Adult Markings: The following is based on descriptions by Busck (1915) and Forbes (1923). The head is dark fuscous, and the antenna dark fuscous with the apical third pale ocherous. The second joint of the labial palp is dark brown with a yellow apex and inner sides. The terminal joint is dark brown with the extreme tip ocherous. The tips of the tegulae and posterior region of the thorax are light ocherous and together produce a light band near the wing base. The forewings is dark fuscous with three light ocherous marks. The first is a small subcostal spot at about one-fifth the wing length. At one-half, there is a larger spot that often appears as a jagged fascia that extends from the costa to near the inner margin. A third small spot occurs at the apical fourth along the costa, and sometimes has an opposing small dot near the inner margin. The cilia are dark fuscous, and the hindwing light fuscous with whitish fuscous cilia. The abdomen is dark fuscous with a light anal tuft. The legs are dark fuscous with light ocherous annulations at the base of the joints.

Wingspan: 12-13 mm (Forbes, 1923)

Forewing Length: 5.5-7 mm (Powell and Opler, 2009)

Adult Structural Features: Landry et al. (2013) have illustrations of the male and female genitalia, and describe characters that will distinguish this species from O. deauratella. In males, O. deauratella is distinguished from O. novimundi by the indented apex of the uncus, the apex of the sacculus being slightly narrower than the base, the distal portion of the valva not being distinctly narrowed, and the presence of a large patch of densely set, stout spines subapically on the vesica anterad of the terminal bundle of thin spines. In O. novimundi, the apex of the uncus is straight or truncate, the apex of the sacculus is slightly broadened, the distal portion of the valva is slightly narrowed, and the vesica has only a terminal bundle of thin spines. In females, O. deauratella has a smooth-walled ductus bursae with finely spinulose microsculpture, and the signum has a rounded, asymmetrical base and a short terminal spine. in O. novimundi, the ductus bursae has sclerotized wrinkles without microsculpture, and the signum has a subsymmetrical, deeply notched base and a long terminal spine (Landry et al., 2013).

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The larvae appear to be detritivores that feed on decaying leaves or other plant debris.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Oegoconia novimundi is native to western Europe. It was apparently introduced to the East Coast over a century ago, and to California sometime around the 1930's (Powell and Opler, 2009). It is now widely distributed across the US and extreme southern Canada. It is common in the West Coast states and in much of the eastern US, except for the southeastern Coastal Plain. Scattered populations occur in the interior regions of the country. As of 2020, our records are all from the Piedmont and lower 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: Adults have been observed from April through September in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in June-August. As of 2020, we have records from early May through October, with peak activity in May and June.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Almost all of our records are from urban-suburban environments.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are detritivores that feed on decaying plant material and decomposing leaves (Powell and Opler, 2009). - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for Exotic Invaded Habitats

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNR [SNA]

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 from Europe and does not merit protection.

Photo Gallery for Oegoconia novimundi - Four-spotted Yellowneck Moth

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

	Recorded by: Sarah Toner and Larry Chen on 2025-08-29 Dare Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-08-25 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-22 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-22 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-07-20 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-06-04 Durham 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: Ken Kneidel on 2024-08-27 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-08-27 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-10-12 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-08 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-04 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-06-23 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-06-01 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-13 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2022-06-11 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-02 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-29 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-25 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-05-24 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-16 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-10-21 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2021-08-25 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-08-14 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-30 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-30 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-24 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-22 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-18 Guilford Co. Comment: