Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGelechiidae Members: Holophysis Members: 19 NC Records

Holophysis emblemella (Clemens, 1860) - No Common Name

Holophysis emblemellaHolophysis emblemellaHolophysis emblemellaHolophysis emblemella
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Gelechiidae		Subfamily:
Anacampsinae		P3 Number:
59a0499		 MONA Number:
2255.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Holophysis emblemella is a boldly marked species with red eyes and a forewing that has a mixture of brownish-black, steel-blue, tan and coppery markings. The following description is based in part on that of Forbes (1923). The labial palp is long, recurved and finely-tapered, with the second segment having a moderately-developed, creamy-white tuft. The terminal segment is creamy-white with dark-brown dusting, and the antenna is dusky-colored. When a resting individual is viewed from above, the head, thorax and basal portions of the forewings have a series of alternating light coppery-tan and brown bands from front to back. These begin with a light head and end with a broad, light band at around one-fifth the wing length. The remainder of the forewing is predominantly dark-brown, with a series of steel-blue to silvery-blue streaks and spots, and a pale, triangular-shaped mark along the inner margin at around three-fifths that often has a darker center. The steel-blue marks include, 1) an outwardly oblique costal streak at around one-third the wing length from the base, 2) a very irregular and narrower medial band that approaches, and sometimes fuses with, the triangular mark along the inner margin, 3) a costal spot at around four-fifths the wing length, and 4) a few irregular subterminal spots near the middle of the wing. In addition, most specimens have varying amounts of rich coppery-colored scales that are concentrated along the inner margin in or around the triangular mark, and posterior to the medial steel-blue band. The fringe is off-white with a wide brown band at the base and a narrower brown terminal edge.
Wingspan: 9 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: As of 2025, the larval life history appears to be undocumented.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Holophysis emblemella is found throughout much of the eastern US and in southern Ontario. In the eastern US, the range extends from Vermont, Massachusetts and southern New York southward through the Appalachian region and Piedmont to central Georgia, central Alabama, and northern Florida. The range extends westward to Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin and northeastern Iowa. This species is uncommon west of the Mississippi River and absent or nearly so from much of the southeastern Coastal Plain. As of 2025, all but one of our records are from the Piedmont and lower elevation sites in the Blue Ridge.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Holophysis emblemellaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
Piedmont (Pd)
Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: The adults have been observed from March through September in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak commonly in May and June. As of 2025, our records range from early-May to late-August, with populations in the Piedmont probably producing two broods per year.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: As of 2025, the hosts are undocumented. Forbes (1923) noted that the larvae possibly feed on buckeyes, but did not apparently have any rearing records for this. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and can be found 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 Holophysis emblemella - None

Photos: 28
Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-20
Madison Co.
Comment:
Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Holophysis emblemella
iNaturalist		Recorded by: robvanepps - Rob Van Epps on 2024-06-01
Buncombe Co.
Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/224904436***(c) Rob Van Epps, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)| Public Positional Accuracy= ? Elevation=2066.7 feet
Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2023-08-16
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2023-08-16
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-10
Durham Co.
Comment:
Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-05-21
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-05-21
Orange Co.
Comment:
Holophysis emblemella
iNaturalist		Recorded by: srmyers on 2023-05-18
Buncombe Co.
Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/162395394***(c) srmyers, all rights reserved| Public Positional Accuracy= ? Elevation=2102.1 feet		Holophysis emblemella
iNaturalist		Recorded by: coco212 - Jamie Simancas on 2022-05-18
Guilford Co.
Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118717802***(c) Jamie Simancas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)| Public Positional Accuracy=147 m Elevation=946.3 feet
Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2022-05-05
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2022-05-05
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Holophysis emblemella
iNaturalist		Recorded by: scott_bolick - Scott Bolick on 2020-05-09
Guilford Co.
Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/45418495***(c) Scott Bolick, all rights reserved| Public Positional Accuracy=28592 m		Holophysis emblemella
iNaturalist		Recorded by: jfox16 on 2019-08-29
Davidson Co.
Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31759440***(c) jfox16, some rights reserved (CC BY)| Public Positional Accuracy=28620 m
Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2019-08-20
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2019-08-20
Stokes Co.
Comment:
Holophysis emblemella
iNaturalist		Recorded by: jfox16 on 2019-07-17
Davidson Co.
Comment: iNat record - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29015936***(c) jfox16, some rights reserved (CC BY)| Public Positional Accuracy=28620 m		Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-05-09
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-05-09
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-05-09
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2015-06-07
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2015-06-07
Wake Co.
Comment:
Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-06-02
Warren Co.
Comment: 		Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-06-02
Warren Co.
Comment:
Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2014-05-19
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Holophysis emblemella
Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2014-05-19
Gates Co.
Comment:

Photos of Holophysis emblemella from iNaturalist

Holophysis emblemella
© jfox16 - 2019-07-17 - Davidson Co.
iNat record 		Holophysis emblemella
© jfox16 - 2019-08-29 - Davidson Co.
iNat record 		Holophysis emblemella
© scott_bolick - Scott Bolick - 2020-05-09 - Guilford Co.
iNat record 		Holophysis emblemella
© coco212 - Jamie Simancas - 2022-05-18 - Guilford Co.
iNat record
Holophysis emblemella
© srmyers - 2023-05-18 - Buncombe Co.
iNat record 		Holophysis emblemella
© robvanepps - Rob Van Epps - 2024-06-01 - Buncombe Co.
iNat record