Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Tortricidae Members:	Bactra Members:	13 NC Records

Bactra furfurana (Haworth, 1811) - Rush Bactra

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Olethreutinae

Tribe:
Bactrini

P3 Number:
51a0477

MONA Number:
2706.00

Other Common Names:
Mottled Marble, The Mottled Bran

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Adult Markings: Species in this genus overlap one another in the coloration and pattern of the forewings and in many cases dissection is required to identify them to species (Heinrich 1926). However, strongly marked specimens show characteristic differences which Heinrich used to create a key based on appearance alone. Bactra verutana and furfurana -- the two species that occur in our area -- are both clay colored to dark wood-brown (Forbes, 1923). According to Heinrich, they differ mainly in terms of the markings (or lack thereof) along the costal region of the wing. In furfurana, a dark basal patch is present that reaches outward to the costa, or is at least represented by an outer dark margin on the costal half of the wing. In verutana, the costal region lacks any dark patches, particularly any extension of a basal dark patch out to the costa. The basal area is typically dark and sharply bent in at the cell (Forbes, 1923).

Adult Structural Features: See images below.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: We have relatively few records for this species, but so far they have been restricted to the 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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on grasses, with documented hosts including flatsedge (Cyperus), spikerush (Eleocharis), rush (Juncus), and bulrush (Scirpus) (Disque, 1908; Forbes, 1923; Robinson et al., 2010). - View

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Sedge, Grass, and Rush Mires

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S2S4

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

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Bactra furfurana - Rush Bactra

Photos: 18

	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-06 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-06 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stefanie Hedrick on 2024-06-27 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-26 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-06-18 Lincoln Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-10-27 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-11 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-05-31 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-06-06 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-27 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-27 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-17 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-17 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-18 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-18 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-18 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2012-05-31 Wake Co. Comment: