Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGelechiidae Members: Isophrictis Members: 6 NC Records

Isophrictis anteliella (Busck, 1903) - No Common Name

Isophrictis anteliellaIsophrictis anteliellaIsophrictis anteliellaIsophrictis anteliella
Taxonomy
Family:
Gelechiidae		Subfamily:
Anomologinae		P3 Number:
59a0604		 MONA Number:
1690.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Isophrictis anteliella is a small moth with a rich-brown color, a thin, diagonal, white line that extends from the costa to the outer margin, and a recurved labial palp that has long, rough, spreading hairs beneath the second segment. The following detailed description is based mostly on that of Busck (1903a).

The antenna has an overall fawn-brown color, with alternating white and brown annulations. The labial palp is fawn-colored, with the third segment about as long, or slightly shorter than, the second. The latter has a conspicuous tuft of long, rough, spreading, brown hairs that ascend forward. The face, head, and thorax are all light fawn-colored, while the forewing is a shade darker and rich reddish-brown. The forewing has two diffuse, short, dark-brown to blackish, longitudinal streaks near the middle of the wing. The first is on the fold and the second parallel to it in the middle of the wing. A small, circular, black spot is present at around three-fourths the wing length, along with a thin, and often somewhat obscure, white line that extends obliquely from the costa at around three-fourths to near the middle of the outer margin. The fringe is fawn-colored with a short, heavy, black basal line that is more pronounced towards the apex. The hindwing is dark gray with fawn-colored cilia, and the legs light reddish-brown, with the tarsal joints slightly tipped with white.

Isophrictis anteliella is very similar to A. rudbeckiella, but the latter lacks the oblique white line at around three-fourths the wing length. It also does not have the rich, fawn-brown color of I. anteliella due to white-tipped, dark scales that produce a more salt-and-peppered texture on the head, thorax and portions of the forewing of A. rudbeckiella.
Genitalia and other structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Isophrictis anteliella is found throughout much of the eastern US and in adjoining areas of southern Canada, including Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. In the US the range extends from New Hampshire, Vermont and New York southwestward to North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and central Alabama, and westward to western Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. A few scattered records are also known from southeastern Louisiana, eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma and Colorado. This species appears to be rare or absent from most of the southeastern Coastal Plain. As of 2025, we have only a few scattered records, but with at least one from each of the three physiographic provinces.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Isophrictis anteliellaAlamance 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: The adults have been observed from May through October in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in August and September. As of 2025, our records are from early-September to early-October.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our few records as of 2025 are from sites where composites and other herbaceous vegetation are present, and range from a xeric Sandhills community to a mesic bottomland forest in the Piedmont.
Larval Host Plants: As of 2025, we are unaware of any documentation of the host plants. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2S3]
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Isophrictis anteliella - None

Photos: 6
Isophrictis anteliella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-24
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Isophrictis anteliella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-24
Madison Co.
Comment:
Isophrictis anteliella
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-16
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Isophrictis anteliella
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04
Orange Co.
Comment:
Isophrictis anteliella
Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-09-10
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Isophrictis anteliella
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-09-10
Durham Co.
Comment: Probably I. anteliella