Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Anacampsis Members:	20 NC Records

Anacampsis levipedella (Clemens, 1863) - Silver-dashed Anacampsis

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Anacampsinae

P3 Number:
59a0483

MONA Number:
2241.00

Comments: Anacampsis levipedella is suspected of being a member of a cryptic species pair. BugGuide has illustrations of two specimens and show some of the differences. However, North Carolina specimens often have maculation that does not clearly conform to these two phenotypes. We are currently treating all of the North Carolina specimens as a single, variable species. Additional studies will hopefully clarify the taxonomic status of North Carolina specimens.

Species Status: This species has an unusually behavior of 'dancing' where the moth rapidly walks in wide circles one or more times after landing on a leaf.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)

Adult Markings: Anacampsis levipedella is a boldly-marked species with complex patterning. The basal half of the forewing varies from being uniformly slate-gray to coppery-brown, with slate-gray being more common in North Carolina specimens. The remainder of the wing has a complex pattern that consists of a mostly black ground color that is overlain with white streaks and marks. The most prominent white marks include a costal spot at around one-half the wing length, a second costal spot at three-fourths, a black ocellus with two white dashes and a connecting white transverse bar on the basal end, and two elongated spots near the inner margin and wing middle that are opposite the first costal spot. The terminal fringe is silvery-gray and usually has a black line or narrow band near the base that may be weakly margined with white basally, or have a more prominent white apical spot. The head and thorax are concolorous with the basal half of the forewing and the eyes are bright red. The antennae is dark-brown to grayish, while the recurved labial palp has a grayish scale tuft on the second segment and a light brown third segment. The legs are mostly black and boldly marked with white rings.

Wingspan: 10 mm (Forbes, 1923).

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

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

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Anacampsis levipedella is widely distributed in eastern North America, including much of the eastern US and portions of southern Ontario and Quebec. In the US the range extends from New York, Vermont and Massachusetts southward to Georgia and northern Florida, and westward along the Gulf States to central Texas, then northward to central Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, eastern Iowa and southern Wisconsin. Populations are absent from most of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. As of 2025, all of our records are from the Piedmont and Blue Ridge.

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 January through August in Florida and other southern locale, and mostly from April through October elsewhere in the range. AS of 2025, our records extend from mid-April through late-September. Local populations in the Piedmont appear to have two broods per year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are often found in wooded, disturbed landscapes such as semi-wooded residential neighborhoods, walkways and trails that adjoin woods, and urban greenways.

Larval Host Plants: The larval host plants appear to be undocumented as of 2025. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and are frequently seen resting on vegetation during the day.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3S4]

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

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Anacampsis levipedella - Silver-dashed Anacampsis

Photos: 11

	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-05-23 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-05-23 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-05-23 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2023-08-30 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2023-08-30 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-21 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-29 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2017-08-12 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2017-04-19 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: J. A. Anderson on 2016-06-27 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2014-05-13 Burke Co. Comment: