Moths of North Carolina
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Inguromorpha Members:
11 NC Records

Inguromorpha basalis (Walker, 1856) - Black-lined Carpenterworm Moth

Inguromorpha basalisInguromorpha basalisInguromorpha basalisInguromorpha basalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Cossoidea		 Family:
Cossidae		Subfamily:
Hypoptinae		Tribe:
[Hypoptini]		P3 Number:
53a0022		 MONA Number:
2659.00
Comments: One of four species (one undescribed) of this genus that occur in North America, and the only one that occurs in the southeast. As with others in the genus, it is among the largest of the "micro-moths."
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Walker (1856); Edwards (1888)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Forewings are creamy white to ashen gray with light brown tinting proximal to the inner and outer margins. There is a variable number of jagged black lines connecting the veins. The most prominent markings are a black crescent near the apex and a vertical black line at the base. Thoracic hump triangular and prominent. Typically rests with abdomen curled upward, well above the wings. Length from tip of head to apex of forewing at rest averages 22 mm (n=1). Larvae: The larva remains undescribed (Covell, 2005), but it is highly suspected that larvae bore into trees like those of other members of this family.
Wingspan: 32 mm, male (Edwards, 1888; as Inguromorpha slossonae)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Undescribed
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Our records come mainly from the Coastal Plain and from an adjoining area in the eastern Piedmont
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Inguromorpha basalis
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: Probably univoltne; our records come from May and June
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The two records from the Coastal Plain come from riparian forests. The Piedmont (Chatham County) record was collected in mixed, second-growth deciduous woodlands adjacent to a river floodplain.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae have apparently not been documented. - View
Observation Methods: Attracted to lights but since the mouthparts of the adults are rudimentary, they do not feed and consequently do not come to bait or visit flowers.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 [SU]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it in state parks and on other public lands.
Comments: Records of this species in NC are few; three records from the coastal plain (collected) and one from the eastern piedmont (photographed/collected). It is possible that I. basalis is genuinely uncommon in the state. The species is not widely depicted in online resources and the number of mapped records relatively small.

 Photo Gallery for Inguromorpha basalis - Black-lined Carpenterworm Moth

Photos: 9

Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2024-05-15
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2024-05-15
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-28
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2022-05-24
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2022-05-24
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-06-07
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-10
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-10
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Parker Backstrom on 2013-06-03
Chatham Co.
Comment: This individual was also collected and given to J. B. Sullivan.