Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Tortricidae Members:	Phaecasiophora Members:	65 NC Records

Phaecasiophora confixana (Walker, 1863) - Macrame Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Olethreutinae

Tribe:
Olethreutini

P3 Number:
51a0540

MONA Number:
2771.00

Comments: A large genus of some 37 species, primarily Oriental but with three species occurring in North America. All three species occur in North Carolina

Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have not been barcoded but those from other eastern localities have and the species are homogenous and well separated

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Adult Markings: Adults resemble species of Olethreutes but have dilated, tufted scaling on the hind tibia which is usually obvious when handling specimens. Adults are similar and maculation will usually allow identification.

Adult Structural Features: Male genitalia are largely similar for all three species, females can be distinguished by details of the genital plate and the shape of the ductus and bursa.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: While this is probably the most common species statewide, its life history is unknown

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Primarily found in the mountains to date but recorded from as far east as Occononeechee Mountain in Orange County

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 collected from late May into early August but we do not know whether this represents one or two generations per year

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: It has been trapped in woodland habitats.

Larval Host Plants: Host plants are poorly documented, but there is a BugGuide record (Curtis Lehman, 2014) of a larva on Sassafras in Pennsylvania. - View

Observation Methods: Adults have been recorded in light traps and are unlikely to be attracted to bait.

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 Phaecasiophora confixana - Macrame Moth

51 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-14 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-26 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-04 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-18 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-07 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-09 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-01 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-05-27 Jackson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-27 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-04-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-04-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-05 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-21 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-20 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-20 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-06 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-29 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-29 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-21 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-21 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-05 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-05-27 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-05-27 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-16 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-05 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-03 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-22 Buncombe Co. Comment: