Moths of North Carolina
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Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
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Glauce Members:
20 NC Records

Glauce pectenalaeella Chambers, 1875 - No Common Name

Glauce pectenalaeellaGlauce pectenalaeellaGlauce pectenalaeellaGlauce pectenalaeella
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Gelechiidae		Subfamily:
Gelechiinae		P3 Number:
59a0690		 MONA Number:
1766.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based in part on the descriptions by Chambers (1875) and Forbes (1923). The head and face are smooth, and the labial palp is recurved, divergent, and arches over the vertex. The third joint is about as long as the second, which is only slightly wider. The antenna extends to about two-thirds the forewing length and is fuscous to black, with a white ring at the tip of the scape. Most populations of this species have individuals that are rather drab and fuscous to blackish. The forewing ground is white to pale, and usually very heavily dusted with dark fuscous or black. The head and thorax of dark individuals is also very dark. Some individuals have the dark scales organized into vague banding at around one-half and three-fourths. A white costal spot is often present at three-fifths the wing length, followed by a pair of costal and dorsal spots at three-fourths. The hindwing is light smoky gray to grayish brown, and the legs are dark brown or black with white annuli. Individuals are sometimes encountered that are lighter colored, with fuscous rather than black dusting. These also often have two or three darker dots near the middle of the wing that are adjoined by orangish-tan scales. Individuals that we have collected at a coastal site in North Carolina are of this type, but those from the western mountain are the typical dark forms.
Wingspan: 7 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Adult Structural Features: The male has a very large tuft of black bristles that projects forward from front of the hindwing.
Immatures and Development: The larval stage is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Glauce pectenalaeella is found in eastern North America from southern Canada (Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec; Nova Scotia) and Maine southward to Florida and westward to central Texas, Oklahoma, and Illinois. As of 2021, we have records from both the Coastal Plain and lower elevations in the mountains.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Glauce pectenalaeella
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: Adults have been found from February through November in southern populations, with a seasonal peak in May and June in most areas of the range outside of North Carolina. As of 2021, our records are from late April through early June. Populations appear to be univoltine in North Carolina.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are apparently undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to 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 within the state to assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Glauce pectenalaeella - None

Photos: 20

Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-08
Harnett Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-19
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-10
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-26
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-26
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-25
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-25
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-06
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-05-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-05-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-10
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-04-27
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-04-21
Onslow Co.
Comment: