Moths of North Carolina
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4 NC Records

Walshia particornella (Busck, 1909) - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Family: CosmopterigidaeP3 Number: 420319.00 MONA Number: 1613.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Busck (1909a); Hodges (1978)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based on descriptions by Busck (1909a) and Hodges (1978). The head, labial palps, thorax, and forewings vary from very dark gray to dark bronzy brown. The antenna is nearly black except for the distal nine segments that are white or yellowish white. The forewing of fresh specimens has three small dull black dots of raised scales; one on the middle of the fold, one on the middle of the wing, and one at the end of the cell. The foreleg is also very dark gray to bronzy brown, with the apex of the fourth tarsal segment and entire fifth segment lighter. The midleg is similar, but with the apices of the tarsal segments pale colored. The hindleg is similar but slightly paler, with the apex of the tibia, the base and apex of the first tarsal segment, and the apices of the remaining segments pale. Hodges (1978) noted that fresh specimens have extremely dark forewings with raised scales, while worn specimens are much paler and lack the patches of raised scales. This is a drab species with few distinguishing characters. Busck (1909) remarked that the shiny forewings and white-tipped antennae distinguish it from similar forms. Hodges (1978) noted that W. elegans is very similar and can be separated from W. particornella by the pale apices of the tarsal segments and the genitalia. Also, the scale tufts of the forewings seem to be better developed than in W. particornella. To date, W. elegans has not been documented in North Carolina.
Wingspan: 12 mm (Busck, 1909)
Forewing Length: 5.0 to 6.8 mm (Hodges, 1978)
Adult Structural Features: Hodges (1961a, 1978) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Immatures and Development: The life history of the larval stage is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Hodges (1978) list the distribution from Washington, D.C., central Illinois, and northwestern Arkansas south to coastal Mississippi and Texas. As of 2020, all of our records are from Ft. Macon State Park in Carteret Co.
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: Hodges (1978) reported adult records from mid-April to mid-July. As of 2020, our records are from 10 April through 28 August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The habitats are poorly documented.
Larval Host Plants: The larval hosts are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults occasionally visit lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU
State Protection:
Comments: We currently do not have sufficient information on the distribution and abundance of this species to assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Walshia particornella - No common name

Photos: 1

Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2019-08-28
Carteret Co.
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