Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Battaristis Members:	12 NC Records

Battaristis concinnusella (Chambers, 1877) - Music-loving Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Anacampsinae

P3 Number:
59a0466

MONA Number:
2225.00

MONA Synonym:
Battaristis concinusella

Comments: The genus Battaristis contains 31 described species that are mostly found in the New World. Most species are found in South America, and only five are currently recognized in North America.

Species Status: Battaristis concinnusella as currently recognized may possibly be a cryptic species complex based on BOLD data that shows the presence of three BINs. Populations in California appear to be distinct from eastern populations, and one group in Canada may be distinct from more southern forms.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Chambers (1877); Forbes (1923)

Adult Markings: This is a small, dull grayish to grayish brown moth with a faint, postmedian light line and a black apical spot. The following description is based on that of Chambers (1877) and Forbes (1923). The labial palp is strongly recurved and extends to the thorax. The second joint of the labial palp is brush-like, while the third segment is conspicuously narrower. This species has an overall dull gray to grayish-brown appearance, with the head, thorax, palps, and most of the forewing being dull gray to grayish brown. The antenna is darker than the general body coloration. The forewing has a dull gray to grayish brown ground color that is sprinkled with lighter, grayish-white scales that are more concentrated in the subapical region. A thin and rather faint postmedial line is present at about three-fourths the wing length. It is white to grayish-white, straight, posteriorly oblique, and fades out before reaching the middle of the wing in the subapical region. An opposing and even fainter dorsal line is usually evident that converges towards the apex of the costal line. The costa has a very short dark-brown to blackish streak at about one-half the wing length that is followed by a whitish streak, then another dark streak just before the post-median line. A larger dark-brown to blackish blotch is usually evident immediately behind the costal line. The apex is heavily dusted with grayish-white scales and has a conspicuous black spot below it. The cilia are dark brown to blackish with a well-defined white marginal line near the middle that is margined anteriorly with darker scales.

This species is similar to Battaristis nigratomella, but tends to be darker overall, with the wing ground color either uniform in the basal half or only weakly two-toned. In B. nigratomella, the costal one-third of the wing on the basal half is lighter than the dorsal two-thirds. Battaristis concinusella also tends to have the apical third of the wing more heavily speckled or dusted with whitish or light silvery gray scales relative to B. nigratomella. The postmedial costal line at about three-fourths is faint in this species relative to that of B. nigratomella.

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: As currently recognized, specimens conforming to the description of B. concinnusella have been found in southern Canada (British Columbia; Alberta; Ontario; Quebec) and in many areas of the United States, including California, Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. In the East, the range extends from New York and vicinity southward to South Carolina and westward to Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Wisconsin. As of 2023, we only have records from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

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 documented from April through October in areas outside of North Carolina, with peak activity from May through August. As of 2023, our few records range from early May through late August.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The habitat preferences are poorly documented, and include wooded residential neighborhoods and a hardwood forest.

Larval Host Plants: The USDA Plants Database lists goldenrod (Solidago) as a host, but we are uncertain of the source of this information. - 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: 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 to assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Battaristis concinnusella - Music-loving Moth

Photos: 16

	Recorded by: Melody McMichael on 2025-06-26 Forsyth Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-23 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Kaitlyn Elliott on 2025-05-08 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-28 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-10 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-26 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-05-12 Bladen Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-05-04 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2021-08-27 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2021-08-27 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn on 2020-05-13 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn on 2020-05-13 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn on 2020-05-13 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2014-08-24 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2014-08-24 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2011-07-30 Wake Co. Comment: