Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFBlastobasidae Members: Blastobasis Members: 3 NC Records

Blastobasis floridella (Dietz, 1910) - No Common Name

Blastobasis floridellaBlastobasis floridellaBlastobasis floridella
Taxonomy
Family:
Blastobasidae		P3 Number:
59a1765		 MONA Number:
1160.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Dietz (1910)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a rather nondescript Blastobasis that lacks a transverse band at one-third the forewing length as seen in some species. The head, thorax and forewings are mostly a uniformly light sandy-brown color with some faint, diffuse dusting of scattered, darker-brown scales. The labial palps are a similar color and dusted with dark scales externally (Dietz, 1910). The antenna is light sandy-brown at the base and a darker tan or brown along the shaft. Males have a notch above the basal segment with a conical tuft in the notch. The forewing typically has a single, blackish, discal dot at around one-half the wing length and two dots at the end of the cell at around three-fourths the wing length. A third, diffuse blotch is often present along the inner margin next to the two dots at the end of the cell, and a row of black dots is present along the base of the cilia. The hindwing is narrow and only about two-thirds the length of the forewing. It is more-or-less concolorous with the forewing and has a prominent concolorous fringe.

This species is somewhat distinctive in lacking dark transverse bands on the forewing as seen in certain other blastobasids. We recommend using a combination of external maculation and genitalia to obtain a confident identification.
Wingspan: 11.0-16.0 mm (Dietz, 1910).
Adult Structural Features: See genitalia images below for North Carolina specimens.
Genitalia and other structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Blastobasis floridella appears to be restricted to Florida, and perhaps adjoining areas in the Panhandle and Gulf Coast. It was recently discovered in coastal communities in North Carolina. As of 2025, we only have two site records from Fort Macon State Park and Carolina Beach State Park.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Blastobasis floridellaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: Adults in Florida have been documented from February through May and from October and November. As of 2025, our very limited records are from mid-August and mid-September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Specimens in North Carolina have been found in coastal dune communities.
Larval Host Plants: Dietz (1910) described this species from four museum specimens that were labeled as emerging from a female cone of Coontie (Zamia integrifolia). This species is not present in North Carolina and other hosts are likely used.
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNR [S1-S2?]
State Protection:
Comments: Blastobasis floridella was previously only known from Florida, but we now have two site records from North Carolina as of 2025. These may reflect a northern disjunction group. Both site records are from state parks where this species is protected.

 Photo Gallery for Blastobasis floridella - None

Photos: 3
Blastobasis floridella
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-08-13
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Blastobasis floridella
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2017-09-14
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Blastobasis floridella
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2017-09-00
Carteret Co.
Comment: