Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Battaristis Members:	44 NC Records

Battaristis new species (Undescribed) - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Anacampsinae

P3 Number:
59a0470.85n

MONA Number:
2229.96

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: This is an undescribed species that has been known for several years by the mothing community. Specimens have mostly been found in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of the southeastern US.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources:

Adult Markings: This is an undescribed species that has been known for several years by the mothing community. Specimens have mostly been found in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of the southeastern US. The patterning is distinctive and consistent among specimens from different areas of the state. The second segment of the labial palp is coppery-brown and the terminal segment white with a coppery-brown tip. The eyes are bright red and the antenna brown. The forewing is coppery-colored, with heavy silvery-white dusting covering portions of it, along with the head and thorax. A prominent transverse silvery-white streak cuts across the wing at around three-fourths the wing length from the base and creates a two-toned appearance of sorts. There are three contrasting black spots, including two at around one-half and near the center of the wing, and a third along the center of the outer margin.

Battaristis vitelli is similar, but has two silvery-white transverse stripes that cut across the wing and a single black spot on the forewing.

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

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: This species is found throughout the southeastern US from Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas eastward to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. There are also a few records farther north into coastal Maryland and Massachusetts. As of 2026, our records are restricted to the eastern 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: The adults have been documented from March through October in different areas of the range. As of 2025, our records range from late-March to late-September, with local populations appearing to produce two broods per year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The adults have been found in a variety of habitats, including xeric Longleaf Pine forests, maritime forests, semi-wooded residential neighborhoods, and mixed deciduous-pine forests.

Larval Host Plants: As of 2025, we are unaware of any documentation of 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 SNR [S3S4]

State Protection:

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Battaristis new species - No common name

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

	Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-16 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Brian Bockhahn, Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Larry Chen on 2025-04-02 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kenneth Geisert, David Bradley, Julie Tuttle, Patrick Coin, Kaitlyn Elliott, Becky Watkins on 2024-08-17 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-08-17 Johnston Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-31 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-06-14 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-06-13 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-06-08 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-05-24 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-07 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2023-08-15 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-17 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-31 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2023-04-13 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-12 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2023-03-26 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-26 Greene Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-25 Greene Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-25 Greene Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-09 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2021-08-10 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-10 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-09 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-04-08 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-09-01 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-08-04 Orange Co. Comment: