Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Battaristis Members:	116 NC Records

Battaristis vittella (Busck, 1926) - Orange Stripe-backed Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Anacampsinae

P3 Number:
59a0470

MONA Number:
2229.00

Other Common Name:
Stripe-backed Moth

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.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012); Leckie and Beadle (2018)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Busck (1916)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Franklin and Coulson (1968)

Adult Markings: This is a small and distinctively marked moth with alternating regions of silvery gray and orangish brown patterning. The following description is based in part on that of Busck (1916). The antenna is silvery gray with darker annulations. The second joint of the labial palp is blackish brown exteriorly and light ocherous fuscous on the inner side, with the edge of the apex white. The terminal joint is whitish with a broad black annulation before the apex. The face is whitish, and the upper head, thorax and much of the forewing is covered with light steel gray to grayish-white scales. The silvery gray regions of the forewing are overlain with four reddish-brown to orangish-brown marks. These include a relatively small and somewhat crescent-shaped mark at one-fourth the wing length, a broad band that extends across the entire wing at one-half, a similar broad band at about three-fourths, and a more diffuse, rounded costal patch just beyond the last band. The two broad bands have rows of whitish scales on their posterior margins that produce an overall pattern of alternating whitish and orangish-brown banding along the wing. In addition to these markings, the basal half of the costal edge is dark brown and there is a small black dash on the middle of the termen. The cilia are steel-gray with a thin black marginal line that is white edged posteriorly. The hindwing is dark fuscous, and the abdomen is blackish fuscous above. The legs are blackish brown with narrow white annulations on the tarsal joints.

Wingspan: 10-11 mm (Busck, 1916)

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on the cones of yellow pines. Ebel (1963) reared adults from Florida from translucent, grayish-white larvae that lived in galleries that were lined with silk. The larvae were found in both first and second year cones of Slash and Longleaf Pine, and were thought to be secondary invaders. Franklin and Coulson (1968) observed the larvae burrowing through dried early second-year cones of Short-leaf Pine in Georgia. No larvae were found inside fresh cones and it was uncertain whether the cone was initially destroyed by this species, or by other inhabitants such as Dioryctria spp. Pupation occurred within the cone and local populations appeared to be multivoltine. The adults were collected in May, September, and October, and the larvae from the last brood overwintered in the dried cones.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Battaristis vittella is found in eastern North America from Maine and adjoining areas of extreme southern Canada southward to southern Florida and westward to eastern Texas, central Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin. It appears to occur statewide in North Carolina, where it is common in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, and uncommon at lower elevations in the mountains.

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 found from February through October in areas outside of North Carolina, with a seasonal peak in June and July. As of 2021, our records are from late March through mid-September, with little evidence of a strong seasonal peak in North Carolina.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are strongly dependent on yellow pines for reproduction and can be found in pine or mixed pine-hardwood communities statewide. Many of our native pines are early to mid-successional species that often become established in abandoned fields or after clearcutting. They also occur on drier slopes and forests and become established after fires when hardwoods are killed.

Larval Host Plants: This species feeds on the cones of yellow pines (Craighead et al., 1950; Ebel, 1963; Franklin and Coulson, 1968; Baker, 1972; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010). The documented hosts include Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata), Slash Pine (P. elliotii), Austrian Pine (P. nigra), Longleaf Pine (P. palustris), Red Pine (P. resinosa), Loblolly Pine (P. taeda), and Virginia Pine (P. virginiana). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found by breaking apart second year cones of pines.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Pine Forests and Woodlands

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 is widespread and rather common across the state. It appears to be secure considering how widespread and abundant yellow pines are in the state.

Photo Gallery for Battaristis vittella - Orange Stripe-backed Moth

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

	Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-10-15 Henderson Co. Comment:	iNaturalist	Recorded by: spinifer - Nate N. on 2025-08-19 Brunswick Co. Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/307752908***(c) Nate N., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)\| Public Positional Accuracy=2 m Elevation=37.2 feet
iNaturalist	Recorded by: cypselurus - Larry Chen on 2025-07-30 Tyrrell Co. Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/302531321***(c) Larry Chen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)\| Public Positional Accuracy=28620 m	iNaturalist	Recorded by: liorcarlson - Lior Carlson on 2025-07-22 Anson Co. Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/301728856***(c) Lior Carlson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)\| Public Positional Accuracy=175 m Elevation=276.1 feet
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment:	iNaturalist	Recorded by: sarah_oberlin - Sarah Oberlin on 2025-07-17 Nash Co. Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/299573337***(c) Sarah Oberlin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)\| Public Positional Accuracy= ? Elevation=169.6 feet
iNaturalist	Recorded by: liorcarlson - Lior Carlson on 2025-07-17 Nash Co. Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/302245529***(c) Lior Carlson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)\| Public Positional Accuracy= ? Elevation=151.2 feet	iNaturalist	Recorded by: harrier on 2025-07-04 Hyde Co. Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/298341611***(c) harrier, some rights reserved (CC BY)\| Public Positional Accuracy= ? Elevation=4.1 feet
	Recorded by: David George, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Larry Chen, Sarah Toner on 2025-06-25 Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-22 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-17 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-17 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-08 Harnett Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Bonnie Eamick on 2025-04-25 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14 Bladen Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2025-04-04 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-09-23 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-04 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-07-30 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-20 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-17 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-15 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-15 Scotland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-06-14 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-29 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-04-17 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-17 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-17 New Hanover Co. Comment: