Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Glyphidoceridae Members:	Glyphidocera Members:	23 NC Records

Glyphidocera floridanella Busck, 1901 - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Glyphidoceridae

Subfamily:
[Glyphidocerinae]

P3 Number:
59a0018

MONA Number:
1138.00

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

Technical Description, Adults: Busck (1901)

Adult Markings: The following description is based on the original description by Busck (1901). The antenna is light brown on the under side and dark fuscous above. In the male it is slightly serrate and deeply notched on upper side of the joint next to the basal one. The labial palp is long, recurved, smooth, and dark bronzy fuscous, with the third joint two-thirds as long as the second. The head and thorax are blackish fuscous, and the face a shade lighter. The forewing has a light yellowish fuscous ground color, and is thickly overlaid with extensive areas of dark blackish brown with a purple sheen. The dark scales are organized into three or four large, ill-defined, patches. The largest occupies nearly the entire basal third of the wing and is most prominent at the dorsal basal third. It has a broadly wavy margin with a patch of light yellow near the mid-point, and is often represented as two separate patches, with the more basal one smaller. The second forms an obscure, posteriorly oblique, band across the wing at about four-fifths the wing length, while a third occupies the apical portion of the wing. The intervals between these patches is filled with the lighter ground color. which is sprinkled with numerous dark scales. The hindwing is dark gray, and about twice as broad as the forewing. The legs are shining yellowish fuscous and shaded with darker fuscous.

Wingspan: Expanse 13.5 to 15 mm (Busck, 1901)

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 floridanella has a relatively small range that includes Alabama, Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. Populations are restricted to non-mountainous regions within these states. As of 2024, we have records from the eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain, including the Sandhills and coastal communities farther east.

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: The adults are active year-round in Florida and from April through October elsewhere. As of 2024, our records extend from early-April through late-October. Local populations in North Carolina appear to have two broods per year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The preferred habitats are poorly documented. In North Carolina, specimens have been found in residential neighborhoods in the Piedmont, in xeric Sandhill communities, and in beach dune and scrub communities.

Larval Host Plants: The hosts and feeding ecology of this species are undocumented. Except for one species, the hosts of the more than 100 described species of Glyphidocera are unknown. This suggest that the larvae do not feed on living plant foliage, and are perhaps detritivores or fungivores. - View

Observation Methods: The adults occasionally visit lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2S3]

State Protection:

Comments: This species appears to be uncommon within the state, where it is at the northern limit of its range. More information is needed on its distribution, abundance, and habitat requirements before we can assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Glyphidocera floridanella - None

Photos: 19

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-30 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-30 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-05-01 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-13 Pamlico Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-05-12 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-05-07 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-17 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-04-10 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-10-25 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2023-05-22 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-12 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2023-05-10 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-18 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-13 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-10-04 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-10-02 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-10-25 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2020-05-18 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2020-05-18 Wake Co. Comment: