Moths of North Carolina

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Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962) - Florida Pink Scavenger Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Cosmopterigidae

Subfamily:
Cosmopteriginae

P3 Number:
59a0399

MONA Number:
1513.00

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, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Hodges (1982)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Adamski et al. (2006)

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 the 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. 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 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 (see structural images below). The tarsal segments are dark-brown basally and pale apically. This species is very similar to P. rileyi, and is most reliably identified using genitalia.

Wingspan: 7.5-11.5 (Hodges, 1962).

Adult Structural Features: Hodges (1962) has detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male genitalia. Also, see images below for North Carolina specimens.

Genitalia and other structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: The larvae are primarily scavengers or detritivores that feed on a variety of organic material. Adamski et al. (2006) observed them feeding on the live flower heads of Sorgum bicolor in Louisiana and provided detailed descriptions of the larvae and pupae. The last instar larvae were 6.0-8.5 mm in length (mean = 7.4 mm) and had pale brownish-gray bodies with a trace of pink in some individuals. The L-group pinaculum was slightly darker than the anal plate, and the pinacula slightly darker than the body, while the thoracic legs were concolorous with the body. The authors were unable to find any diagnostic characters that would separate these from A. rileyi.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Anatrachyntis badia is found in relatively warm climates and occurs in the US as two groups: one in central and southern California that may have been introduced, and the second in the southeastern US from eastern Texas eastward through the Gulf Coast states to southern Florida, and northward to the Carolinas. As of 2025, our records are all from the southern part of the state, including the Charlotte area and in coastal communities.

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: Local populations are multivoltine and can be found year-round in Florida and Alabama. As of 2025, our records extend from early-May through mid-November.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are generally associated with areas where sources of food such as decaying vegetation, citrus fruits or flower heads are available (see below).

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are mostly scavengers and feed on a variety of dried fruits and plant material. They also are known to feed on the live seed heads of Sorgum (Adamski et al., 2006). Hodges (1962) noted that many of the literature records for A. rileyi and A. badia are confounded due to misidentification. He reported them to use pine cones infested by Dioryctria moth larvae, rust-infected cones of Pinus elliottii, the cones of P. palustris, the pods of Cassia occidentalis, the dried fruits of peaches and loquat, limes, grapefruit, bananas, cabbage, the blossoms of coconut, and elm leaves. Heppner (2007) reports that larvae feed on scale insects, but also lists elm, pine, and peach. Ken Kneidel has recent reared several adults from dried, ornamental Zinnia seed heads. The larvae were presumably feeding on developing or mature seeds. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and can be reared from dried seed heads, pine cones and other sources of concentrated organic matter.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2S4]

State Protection:

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Anatrachyntis badia - Florida Pink Scavenger Moth

Photos: 11

	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-11-20 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Emerged from a collection of Zinnia flower heads (see genitalia images).		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-11-20 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-11-20 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-11-20 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-08 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-08 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-05-02 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-11-18 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2023-10-27 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-04 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2020-08-16 Carteret Co. Comment: