Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Untomia Members:	63 NC Records

Untomia albistrigella (Chambers, 1872) - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Anacampsinae

P3 Number:
59a0464

MONA Number:
2223.00

Comments: Untomia is a small genus of New World moths, with nine described species that are found from Canada southward to Ecuador and Columbia.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)

Adult Markings: The following description is based on that of Chambers (1872, p. 171). Almost every part of this small moth is brown, including the head, thorax, palps, antennae, and wings. The labial palp is strongly recurved and extends to the thorax. The second joint of the labial palp is brush-like and slightly thickened towards the apex, while the third segment is conspicuously narrower. The forewing is dark brown except for a small oblique white costal streak just before the apex that terminates before reaching the middle of the wing. An opposing streak is on the dorsal margin, but is sometimes missing or reduced to a faint broken line of whitish scales that projects towards the apex. In addition to these, a few indistinct whitish scales or small spots are sometimes evident near the apex. The cilia are pale fuscous and have a dark brown marginal line before their middle. The hindwing is light brown, and the legs are brown with pale annulations on the tarsi. Live specimens also have red eyes.

Wingspan: 8 mm (Forbes, 1923)

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

Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Untomia albistrigella is found in eastern North America, including extreme southern Ontario and much of the eastern US. The range extends from southern New York and New Jersey southward to Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, western Kentucky, Illinois, and southern Michigan. As of 2022, we have scattered records from all three physiographic regions.

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: Adults have been found from February to October in areas outside of North Carolina, with a seasonal peak in June and July. As of 2021, we have records from mid-May to early October, with most between mid-May and early July. Most populations in North Carolina appear to be univoltine.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The preferred habitat is undocumented. Our records are mostly from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.

Larval Host Plants: The hosts are unknown. - View

Observation Methods: The adults occasional come to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

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 Untomia albistrigella - None

56 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-20 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-06-18 Alamance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-16 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-14 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-30 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-28 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-24 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-23 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-06-17 Lincoln Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-17 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-16 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-14 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-06-13 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-06-09 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Tracy Feldman, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Patrick Coin, Becky Watkins on 2024-06-08 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-07 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-11 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2023-08-25 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-18 Caswell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka, David George on 2023-08-05 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-26 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-11 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-10 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-07 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-04 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-03 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-30 Madison Co. Comment: