Moths of North Carolina
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39 NC Records

Glyphidocera democratica Meyrick, 1929 - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: GlyphidoceridaeSubfamily: [Glyphidocerinae]Tribe: [Glyphidocerini]P3 Number: 420016.00 MONA Number: 1137.00
Comments: Glyphidocera is a large but poorly studied genus with numerous undescribed species in the Neotropics, where they reach their greatest diversity. Adamski (2005) described 88 new species from Costa Rica alone. There are currently 11 described species in North America, and seven species in North Carolina. They are small to medium-sized moths and, with rare exceptions, vary from pale yellowish brown to dark brown. Most have few, if any, diagnostic markings on the wings. Host associations are unknown for almost all species, which suggests that they may be detritivores or fungivores that do not feed on living plants.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Meyrick (1929)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based in part on the description by Meyrick (1929). The palps are strongly recurved and reach backwards almost to the thorax. The head, thorax, labial palps, and forewings are brownish to ocherous. The antenna is tan with obscure darker annulations, and the notch is deep, with a scale-tooth beneath. The forewing has thinly sprinkled dark brown to blackish scales throughout. A heavy dusting of black scales is present on the termen and fringe, and sometimes on the basal third of the wing. A large blackish spot is present just before one-half the wing length near the middle, and a second smaller spot at about two-thirds. The first spot is often elongated and somewhat oblique. The cilia are pale gray to grayish black, with two obscure shades of gray. The hindwings is light gray, and the cilia are pale gray with a darker sub-basal shade. Glyphidocera democratica resembles several other Glyphidocera in terms of the overall brownish appearance and spot pattern. This species tends to be darker than most others and has a heavy dusting of black scales near the end of the forewing. In addition, the first dark-brown spot tends to be elongated, slightly oblique, and noticeably larger than the second spot.
Wingspan: 16-18 mm (Meyrick, 1929)
Forewing Length: approximately 8 mm (J.B. Sullivan)
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Glyphidocera democratica is found in the eastern US, and primarily in the Southeast. The range extends from Maryland and vicinity, southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Illinois. As of 2021, our records are mostly from the Piedmont, with one record from a lower elevation site in the mountains, and a second from the southern Coastal Plain.
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 July in areas outside of North Carolina. Populations in North Carolina are univoltine. As of 2021, our records extend from late May through mid-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The natural habitats are poorly documented, with almost all of our records coming from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are unknown. Except for one species, the hosts of the more than 100 described species of Glyphidocera are unknown. This suggests that the larvae do not feed on living plant foliage, and are perhaps detritivores or fungivores.
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: As of 2021, we have a few scattered records from throughout the state. We need additional information on the distribution, abundance, and habitat use before we can assess the conservation status of this species.

 Photo Gallery for Glyphidocera democratica - No common name

Photos: 30

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-06
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21
New Hanover Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-26
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-11
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-09
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stefanie Hedrick on 2022-06-06
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-06-04
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-04
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-31
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-29
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2021-08-10
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-06-17
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-06-16
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-07-12
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-07-11
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-07-02
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-06-30
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-06-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-06-13
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-06-12
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-06-12
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-06-12
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-06-08
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-06-08
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Amanda Auxier on 2017-05-25
Pender Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2016-06-03
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2012-05-30
Wake Co.
Comment: