Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFBlastobasidae Members:
Asaphocrita Members:
33 NC Records

Asaphocrita aphidiella (Walsingham, 1907) - No Common Name


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: BlastobasidaeSubfamily: BlastobasinaeTribe: HolcoceriniP3 Number: 421733.00 MONA Number: 1171.00
Comments: The genus Asaphocrita is yet another taxonomically challenging group of small moths in the subfamily Blastobasinae. Asaphocrita aphidiella as recognized here is a member of what appears to be a cryptic species complex (BOLD), with at least two of the members present in North Carolina. Until systematic studies are completed, we have elected to treat these forms as a single species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based in part on the description by Walsingham (1907). The head, central region of the thorax, and tegulae are copper-colored and may have a faint iridescent coppery-greenish luster. The remainder of the thorax is dark, with an anterior and posterior bar. The antenna of the male is strongly notched beyond the basal joint. The palp is brownish cinereous, with the median joint darkened externally. The palp is slender, pointed, moderately recurved, and reaches beyond the basal joint of the antenna. In North Carolina populations, the forewing ground color is whitish and crisply dusted with dark brown to blackish scales. The wing base is dark brown and contrast with the coppery band through the thorax and tegulae. A dark brown to blackish, angulated fascia is present just before one-half the wing length. The tip of the chevron-like point often extending rearward for a short distance before terminating above a dark costal blotch at about three-fifths the wing length. The paired discal spots are typically absent, and are replaced by a dark bar that originates on the inner margin and terminates near the middle of the wing. On some specimens the bar may fuse with a dark, posteriorly oblique costal streak that projects towards the termen. In addition to the larger marks, small dark blotches or spots are often evident between the bar and the fringe. The hindwing and fringe on both wings is light grayish brown.
Wingspan: 17 mm (Walsingham, 1907)
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: Asaphocrita aphidiella occurs from the New England states and adjoining areas of Canada southward to western North Carolina, and westward to Michigan and Ohio. In North Carolina, this species in only known from the Blue Ridge where it is found from the lower valleys to the highest peaks.
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 from April through August in areas outside of North Carolina. As of 2021, we have records from late April through late June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitat is poorly documented. Mant of our records are from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and can be common during their brief flight period during May and June.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [SU]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is locally common in the mountains, but more information is needed on its habitat requirements and distribution before we can assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Asaphocrita aphidiella - No common name

Photos: 21

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-06
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-04-19
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-03
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-26
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-26
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-14
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-15
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-15
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-28
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-28
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-13
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-04-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-04-21
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-18
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-07
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
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