Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFCosmopterigidae Members: Anatrachyntis Members: 2 NC Records

Anatrachyntis rileyi (Walsingham, 1882) - Pink Scavenger Caterpillar Moth

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Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Cosmopterigidae		Subfamily:
Cosmopteriginae		Tribe:
[Cosmopterigini]		P3 Number:
59a0398		 MONA Number:
1512.00		 MONA Synonym:
Pyroderces rileyi
Comments: Pyroderces is a genus of small comet moths that are primarily found in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate parts of the world. They are well represented in Australia and the Old World tropics, and there are three species that have been traditionally recognized in North America. Hodges (1978) placed our three species in the genus Pyroderces, but later changed these to Sathrobrota (Hodges, 1962). Europeans usually place these in the genus Anatrachyntis, and current taxonomy also treats the North American species as being in this genus.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Hodges (1978)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Busck (1917)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based mostly on that of Hodges (1962). The labial palp is white with a tinge of buff, with the second segment with a tawny band on outer surface at one-fifth and three-fifths, along with a tawny apex. The third segment has three brown annulations, with one post-basal, one medial, and one pre-apical. The antenna has a buff-white scape with tawny dusting on dorsal surface, and a white shaft with dark-brown annulations. The apical fourth has three longer, dark segments with white and dark-brown annulations in between. The vertex, thorax and forewing have an overall pale-tawny coloration, with the latter having rather complex and variable patterning. The forewing has a buff-white ground that is heavily overlaid with tawny, and also overlaid with fuscous on the costal half of the wing. Specimens typically have salt-and-peppery striae due to black tipped scales preceded or followed by buff-white scales. These include 1) a sub-basal transverse band or patch at around one-fourth that does not reach the costa or inner margin, 2) a similar transverse band or patch in the center of the wing at one-half, 3) a subcostal line from three-fifths to four-fifths, and 4) a posteriorly-oblique ciliary line that extends from the tornus to the apex. The cilia are gray-brown and the hindwings fuscous.

The hind tibia is tawny on the basal two-fifths of the outer surface and has an oblique white streak from the middle tibial spur. The streak is interrupted by a dorsolateral row of brown scales. The distal half of the hind tibia is dark-brown, with the apex pale buff-white and the tibial spurs white or with black at the middle. The tarsal segments are dark-brown basally and pale apically.


This species is very similar to P. badia, and is perhaps most reliably identified using genitalia. Hodges (1978; 1982) reported that the color patterning on the hind tibia is diagnostic. The tibia of P. rileyi has a median white streak or band that is interrupted by a dorsolateral row of brown scales, while that of P. badia has a median white streak that is unicolorous and lacks the row of brown scales.
Wingspan: 9-12 mm (Hodges, 1982)
Forewing Length: 4.2-6.8 mm (Hodges, 1978)
Adult Structural Features: Hodges (1978; 1982) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia, and a key for distinguishing this species from P. badia. Busck (1917) also has descriptions and illustrations of the male genitalia, and detailed descriptions of the larvae and pupae.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: The larvae primarily feed as scavengers and decomposers on plant material such as stored grain, rotting fruits, and piles of plant debris. The mature larvae are 7-8 mm long and pink to deep red wine. The head is light brown with blackish trophi, and the thoracic shield is broad, undivided, strongly chitinized, and dark brown. The anal plate is light brown, and the tubercles are small, whitish, and bear long, light-brown setae (Busck, 1917). The pink areas are arranged in two bands, one each on the anterior and posterior margins of each segment. Populations are multivoltine in tropical regions, with as many as eight generations per year.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Anatrachyntis rileyi is widely dispersed in warm and tropical regions around the world. It was originally described from Georgia, but it is uncertain if it is native to North America. Some feel that the species originated from Africa. It is now found in many areas with warm temperate to tropical climates, including portions of Europe, Africa, southern Asia, the Pacific, South America, and the US and Caribbean Islands. In the US, it occurs in the southeastern Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Florida, and westward along the Gulf Coast to southern Texas. It is also well established in California and Arizona. As of 2025, we have only two historical records from before 1940.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Anatrachyntis rileyiAlamance 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 		No records for adults.
Flight Comments: The adults are active year-round in Florida, and mostly from June through October farther north. Our two historical records for the state lack collection dates.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is associated with human habitation and agricultural operations. The adults feed on a variety of stored grains, cultivated fruits, and decomposing plant debris.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae are highly polyphagous, and mostly feed as scavengers or detritivores on a variety of plant material (Hodges, 1982; Landry, 2001). They have also been reported to mine leaves and to prey upon scale insects (Landry, 2001). The larvae feed on stored grains, fruits and vegetables, flowers, flower heads, rotting vegetation, legume pods, coffee beans, and many other organic food sources. Walsingham (1882) originally described the species from adults that emerged from rotting cotton-bolls. They can become significant pests on stored grain, bananas, citrus, and other foods. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights, and can often be found in stored grains, decomposing plant material, and other organically rich substances.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [SNA]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This is thought to be an introduced species, but this needs to be verified. If so, it does not merit protection.