Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFScythrididae Members: Scythris Members: 1 NC Records

Scythris basilaris (Zeller, 1855) - No Common Name

Scythris basilaris
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Scythrididae		P3 Number:
59a1703		 MONA Number:
1652.00
Comments: The genus Scythris is a member of the Family Scythrididae, whose members display a diversity of genital structures that is probably unsurpassed within any other family in the Lepidoptera (Landry, 1991). The extraordinarily diversity in genital morphology in the males of many taxa reaches such extremes that it is easy to recognize species, but difficult to delineate higher taxa. There are around 44 currently recognized species for the Nearctic region. North America has 14 described species, including 10 species of Scythris. Most are drably colored moths that superficially resemble one another. Landry (1991) found at least 300 undescribed species in North American collections alone based on genitalic differences, and estimated that there could be as many as 400 and 500 species of scythridids In North America. Many of these are in arid regions of the US.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Scythris basilaris is a medium-sized scythridid with the upper surface of the body very dark brown. The forewing is dark-brown and distinctive in having a golden or yellowish streak in the fold that extends from the wing base to about one third the wing length, along with a similarly colored apical patch. The basal streak can vary from prominent to faint depending on individual variation and wear. The hind tibia also has a very long and prominent tibial brush that is characteristic of this species. In addition, the males have a dense anal tuft. The pattern of golden-yellow markings of the forewing over the dark-brown ground color distinguishes this species from those of all other Nearctic members of the Scythrididae (Landry, 1991).
Forewing Length: 5.7-6.5 mm for males and 6.0-7.0 mm for females.
Adult Structural Features: Landry (1991) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Scythris basilaris is found in eastern North America and mostly in areas with cool climates, including Ontario and much of the northeastern US. The range extends from New Hampshire and Massachusetts westward across the Great Lakes region to Iowa, and southwestward mostly through the Appalachian region to West Virginia, southern Ohio, eastern Kentucky, and western North Carolina (Landry, 1991). There is one isolated record from central Florida. As of 2025, we have a single record from Ashe County.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Scythris basilarisAlamance 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: Landry (1991) reported that the adults occur from mid-June to mid-July and are probably diurnal. As of 2025, our one record is from 7 July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are often found in forest edge habitats and open woods.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants are poorly documented. Landry (1991) reported that two museum labels stated that this species was found on Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) and a second Ceanothus species, which suggests that this might be the host plant. Robinson et al. (2010) reported that the larvae feed on blackberries (Rubus spp.), but we are unaware for the basis for this. As of 2025, we do not have any larval records for North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are diurnally active and can sometimes be collected by sweeping low vegetation or searching for adults feeding on flowers such as Achillea or Ceanothus.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2]
State Protection:
Comments: This species appears to reach its southern range limit in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina where we have only one record as of 2025.

 Photo Gallery for Scythris basilaris - None

Photos: 1
Scythris basilaris
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2021-07-07
Ashe Co.
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