Moths of North Carolina
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9 NC Records

Nemapogon auropulvella (Chambers, 1873) - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tineoidea Family: TineidaeSubfamily: NemapogoninaeTribe: [Nemapogonini]P3 Number: 300107.00 MONA Number: 263.00
Comments: Nemapogon is a genus with approximately 70 named species that reach their greatest diversity in the Old World. There are 17 described species in North America.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Chambers (1873); Forbes (1923)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based primarily on descriptions by Chambers (1873) and Forbes (1923). The head is white and the antenna yellowish gray to dusky with a partly dark gray to blackish scape. The second segment of the palp is outwardly all black, while the third segment is all white. The ground color of the forewing is white and mottled with light golden brown that is often more concentrated on the apical end. The remaining marks on the forewing are dark brown or black. There is usually a very small dark spot on the costa at the extreme base, another larger one on the costa near the base, and a similar costal spot just before the middle. Just beyond the middle there is a much larger squarish, black spot on the costa. This often opposes an oblique narrow streak (sometimes poorly developed) that projects anteriorly towards the dorsal margin. Beyond the squarish spot, there are one or more small costal spots that continue as a series of elongated spots around the base of the cilia. The cilia are similar in color to the ground color of the forewing, with varying levels of light golden mottling. One or more light streaks are often evident in the cilia that radiate from the base towards the tips.
Wingspan: 11-16 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Nemapogon auropulvella is found in southern Canada from British Columbia to Quebec, and in the eastern US. The range extends from Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois eastward to the northeastern states, and then southwestward to as far south as Alabama and northern Florida. It appears to be rare or absent from much of the southeastern Coastal Plain. As of 2020, we have records from the Blue Ridge and Piedmont.
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 are in flight from May through September. As of 2020, our records are from May and June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The larval hosts are unknown, but this species may feed on fungus that grows on hardwoods (Heppner, 2003). Chambers (1873) found the adults resting upon the trunks of trees in forests.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented. Many species in this genus feed on fungi that decompose rotting wood (Lawrence and Powell, 1969), but we are unaware of any adults of N. auropulvella being reared from fungi to date. - 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: This species appears to be uncommon in the state, but additional information is needed before its conservation status can be assessed.

 Photo Gallery for Nemapogon auropulvella - No common name

Photos: 10

Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-15
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Macon Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Lior Carlson, Brian Bockhahn on 2022-08-09
Rockingham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-06-01
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-06-01
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-19
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-01
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-01
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-05-30
Orange Co.
Comment: