Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Glyphidoceridae Members:	Glyphidocera Members:	82 NC Records

Glyphidocera lactiflosella (Chambers, 1878) - Five-spotted Glyphidocera

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Glyphidoceridae

Subfamily:
[Glyphidocerinae]

Tribe:
[Glyphidocerini]

P3 Number:
59a0021

MONA Number:
1139.00

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: Covell (1984); Leckie and Beadle (2018)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)

Adult Markings: This is our only predominantly white Glyphidocera, and is easily distinguished by the pair of black dots on the thorax, along with the five dark marks on the forewing. The following detailed description is primarily based on the description in Forbes (1923). The labial palp is recurved, reaches to about the middle of the head, and is mostly creamy-white with brown dusting. The outer surface of the second joint is brown except at its tip. The basal joint of the antenna is whitish, and the stalk brown. The thorax is white with a pair of small dark brown to blackish dots at the posterior margin. The forewing ground color is white to creamy white and sparsely dusted with dark brown scales. There are five dark brown to blackish marks that are roughly equally spaced. The first four are close to the middle of the wing and include a small spot at the wing base, a larger spot at about one-fourth the wing length, an irregularly curved bar (often C-shaped) at about one-half, and a similar bar (often with a reverse C-shape) at three-fourths. The fifth mark is a dark brown to blackish line at the wing tip (termen) that contrast with the whitish cilia. The hindwing and abdomen vary from whitish to light brown. The legs are mostly creamy white and sparsely dusted with brown, with brown bands at the joints. The tibias of the first and second pair are brown.

Wingspan: 12 mm (Forbes, 1923)

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 lactiflosella is primarily found in the southeastern US from North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas southward to the eastern Texas, the Gulf Coast states, and Florida. There are a few widely scattered records from farther north that may be valid. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina, except for perhaps the highest elevations in the 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: The adults are active nearly year-round in Florida and from April through October elsewhere in areas outside of North Carolina. As of 2021, our records extend from June through late September. Populations in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont appear to be univoltine with a brief flight season in June and July. Mountain populations fly later and have a more extended flight season.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The habitat preferences are poorly documented. We have numerous records from residential neighborhoods, as well as natural systems that include a cypress swamp, a barrier island, and a mixed hardwood forest.

Larval Host Plants: Except for one species, the hosts of this species and 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. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4S5]

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

Comments: This species is widespread and regularly appears at lights, which suggests that the species is relatively secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Glyphidocera lactiflosella - Five-spotted Glyphidocera

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

	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-06-30 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-30 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-30 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-14 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-11 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-17 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-04 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin on 2024-06-22 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Larry Chen on 2024-06-09 Tyrrell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Hunter Phillips on 2024-06-07 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-06-01 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-27 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-27 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2023-09-02 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-30 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-22 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-18 Caswell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Swain Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29 Swain Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-26 Chatham Co. Comment: