Moths of North Carolina
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Nemapogon Members:
14 NC Records

Nemapogon rileyi (Dietz, 1905) - Riley's Nemapogon

Nemapogon rileyi Nemapogon rileyi Nemapogon rileyi Nemapogon rileyi
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tineoidea Family: TineidaeSubfamily: NemapogoninaeP3 Number: 300118 MONA Number: 272.00
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: Leckie and Beadle, 2018 Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Dietz (1905)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based primarily on Dietz's (1905) original description of the species. The head and thorax are dark brown and the antenna pale ochreous fuscous. The ground color of the forewing is a deep rich golden brown and traversed by white longitudinal lines. The extreme costa and dorsal margins are pale, and there are two or more narrow white lines along the costal margin that interconnect to varying degrees. Two other narrow white lines arise from middle of base and run parallel almost to the apical cilia where they converge with a curved white line that originates on the dorsal margin near the beginning of the dorsal cilia. These continue to the cilia where they split into two white lines. The terminal fringe is whitish on the dorsal half, and dark brown on the apical half, with two white lines within. A thin line of scattered, brown scales occurs in the middle of the fringe. The hindwing and cilia are gray. This very distinctively marked species is unmistakable.
Wingspan: 10.0-14.5 mm (Dietz, 1905).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larva are known to feed on fungi, but almost all aspects of the life history are undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Nemapogon rileyi is found across much of the eastern US and adjoining areas of southern Canada (Ontario). The range extends from the northeastern states south and westward to Florida, southern Alabama and Texas. Farther north, population occur as far west as Wisconsin. Populations are most common in the Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont, and relatively rare in many interior regions. As of 2020, our records for North Carolina are from the Costal Plain 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 have been observed during every month of the year, but are most common from April-July. As of 2020, our records extend from late March through September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The habitat is poorly documented. Many Nemapogon species utilize fungi that grow on dead and decaying hardwoods, and this species is likely affiliated with habitats with hardwood trees.
Larval Host Plants: Dietz (1905) noted that N. rileyi was bred by a colleague from fungus, but the exact fungal host was not reported. - 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:
Comments: We currently do not have sufficient information on the distribution and abundance of this species in North Carolina to assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Nemapogon rileyi - Riley's Nemapogon

Photos: 16

Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-13
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-07
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-07
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-30
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-30
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2023-03-27
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2023-03-27
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-09-19
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2021-08-24
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-09-01
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-05-30
Craven Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-05-30
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-04-24
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-04-03
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-03-28
Onslow Co.
Comment: