Moths of North Carolina
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36 NC Records

Telphusa longifasciella (Clemens, 1863) - Y-backed Telphusa

Telphusa longifasciellaTelphusa longifasciellaTelphusa longifasciella
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: GelechiidaeSubfamily: GelechiinaeTribe: GelechiiniP3 Number: 59a0691.5 MONA Number: 1858.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012); Leckie and Beadle (2018)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This small moth has a dark purplish ground color and a distinctive whitish, Y-pattern when a resting moth is viewed from above. The following description is primarily based on that of Forbes (1923). The head is white and the antenna is annulated with white and purplish-brown. The labial palp is mostly purplish to purplish-brown. The second segment has an apical white annulus, and the third segment a white basal and subapical annulus. The thorax and ground color of the forewing is rich dark purple. The forewing has a conspicuous white fascia that begins near the base of the costa, runs obliquely across to the inner margin, then meets a longitudinal streak that runs along the inner margin almost to the apex. It is often constricted or interrupted at the anal angle and may appear dirty white or have a faint yellowish brown dusting. The cilia are whitish, and the hindwing and fringe are pale grayish.
Wingspan: 15 mm (Forbes, 1023)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Very little is known about the larval life history. The larvae are known to feed on Staghorn Sumac, but details about the life history are undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Telphusa longifasciella is found in eastern North America from the New England states and adjoining areas of southern Canada (Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec; New Brunswick) southward to the Florida Panhandle and westward to eastern Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Wisconsin. There are a few records from out West in British Columbia, Washington, and Utah. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.
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: The adults have been observed from January through August in areas from outside of North Carolina, with a strong seasonal peak in April and May. As of 2021, our records extend from late February through early May. Populations in North Carolina are univoltine, with breeding occurring mostly from mid-March to early May.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats and hosts are poorly documented. Most of our records are from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae have been recorded on Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina; Lee and Brown, 2008; Robinson et al., 2010), but other hosts are undoubtedly used given that the adults have been collected far from the range of this host species. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. The hosts are poorly documented, so information on the larval life history would be of value.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species appears to be secure in North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Telphusa longifasciella - Y-backed Telphusa

Photos: 24

Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-03-16
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-29
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-04
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-01
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-04-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-04-11
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-04-07
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-04-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-04-03
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-04-03
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-05-01
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-04-30
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-04-30
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2019-04-10
Rockingham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger on 2017-04-12
Gates Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: J. Merrill Lynch on 2015-05-07
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2015-04-05
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2014-04-04
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2011-03-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2011-03-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2010-04-03
Wake Co.
Comment: