Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Aroga Members:	27 NC Records

Aroga compositella (Walker, 1864) - Six-spotted Aroga

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Gelechiinae

Tribe:
Gelechiini

P3 Number:
59a1140

MONA Number:
2187.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Busck (1903a)

Adult Markings: Aroga compositella is easy to identify based on the forewing markings. In this species the labial palp has a well-developed white brush on the second segment, while the third segment is black with a white tip. The antenna is black and the face white. The head, thorax and ground color of the forewing are bronzy-black, with the latter having four large white marks. These include an outwardly oblique, white, costal streak near the base that extends just beyond the center of the wing, a nearly elliptical white spot on the middle of the wing, a triangular white costal spot at around four-fifths the wing length, and a smaller dorsal white spot that is opposite it on the inner margin. Most specimens also have a tiny white dot just basal to and inward from the middle spot, and a series of 4-5 small white dots on the outer margin that extend around the apex. The fringe and hindwing are smoky brown, and the outer portions of the legs are black with contrasting white bands.

Aroga compositella can be confused with Fascista bimaculella, but the latter has a white head, and has the costal and dorsal spots at four-fifths united to form a complete fascia.

Wingspan: 15-16 mm (Busck, 1903a).

Adult Structural Features: See below for images of genitalia for North Carolina specimens.

Genitalia and other structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: As of 2025, we are unaware of any descriptions of the larval life history.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Aroga compositella is most common in the southeastern US, with the range extending from eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma eastward to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. It is also found as a possible disjunct group from Maryland to New Hampshire and Maine, and mostly along coastal regions. Isolated records are also known from Wisconsin and Colorado. As of 2025, our records are all from the southern Coastal Plain, with one unusual record from Mt. Mitchell.

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 fly year-round in the southernmost areas of the range such as Florida and Alabama, and mostly from March through October farther north, with the northernmost populations in Massachusetts and Maine having a relatively brief flight period from May through August. As of 2025, our records extend from late-May to mid-October, with local populations likely producing two or three broods per year in the Coastal Plain.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Except for a single enigmatic record from Mt. Mitchell, all of our records are from xeric communities in the Sandhills and along the coast.

Larval Host Plants: As of 2025, we are unaware of any records for 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: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species appears to be uncommon and restricted to xeric communities in the southern Coastal Plain.

Photo Gallery for Aroga compositella - Six-spotted Aroga

Photos: 15

Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-08-29 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-08-29 Moore Co. Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-17 New Hanover Co. Comment:	iNaturalist	Recorded by: steven307 - Steven Joyner on 2023-06-03 Robeson Co. Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/165555531***(c) Steven Joyner, some rights reserved (CC BY)\| Public Positional Accuracy= ? Elevation=194.9 feet
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21 New Hanover Co. Comment:
Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-05-31 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-05-31 Moore Co. Comment:
Recorded by: Rich Teper on 2022-05-31 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-10 Moore Co. Comment:
Recorded by: E. Corey on 2007-10-03 Bladen Co. Comment:

Photos of Aroga compositella from iNaturalist
© steven307 - Steven Joyner - 2023-06-03 - Robeson Co. iNat record

Aroga compositella (Walker, 1864) - Six-spotted Aroga

Photo Gallery for Aroga compositella - Six-spotted Aroga

Photos of Aroga compositella from iNaturalist