Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFTortricidae Members: Phaecasiophora Members: 48 NC Records

Phaecasiophora niveiguttana Grote, 1873 - Labyrinth Moth


Phaecasiophora niveiguttana
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaPhaecasiophora niveiguttanaPhaecasiophora niveiguttana
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea
Family:
Tortricidae
Subfamily:
Olethreutinae
Tribe:
Olethreutini
P3 Number:
51a0541
MONA Number:
2772.00
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. Sexes are similar. This species is the most distinct and unlikely to be confused with any other moths.
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. Maculation will usually allow identification.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae have been recorded from Sassafras where they silk together leaves and feed within the shelter
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Perhaps our most wide ranging species with collections and sightings from the Coastal Plain, where it can be common, to lower elevations in the mountains, usually below 2500’
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: Most common in April in the Coastal Plain but records continue into August. The number of broods is uncertain.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Adults have been collected in wooded habitats as well as adjacent open areas.
Larval Host Plants: Reported hosts include Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) and American Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) (Forbes, 1923). In North Carolina, Tracy Feldman has recorded (BugGuide, 2023) a larva on Swamp Redbay (Persea palustris). - View
Observation Methods: Adults have been recorded in light traps and are unlikely to be attracted to bait.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Forest-Field Ecotones and Groves
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
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 Photo Gallery for Phaecasiophora niveiguttana - Labyrinth Moth

Photos: 30
Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: David George on 2025-06-29
Richmond Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20
Richmond Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Owen McConnell and Simpson Eason on 2024-06-19
Graham Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-31
Madison Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-05
Madison Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-11
Brunswick Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-08-18
Chatham Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-18
Chowan Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-05
Buncombe Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-29
Chatham Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-08-22
Wake Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-07-22
Graham Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-19
Buncombe Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-28
Buncombe Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-02
Buncombe Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-02
Onslow Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-08-05
Madison Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-08-05
Madison Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2019-05-13
Gates Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-10
Yancey Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-10
Yancey Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Amanda Auxier on 2018-07-08
Pender Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-05-28
McDowell Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Darryl Willis on 2015-05-22
Cabarrus Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2014-06-06
Moore Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2013-08-17
Gates Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: Harry Wilson on 2010-05-20
Wake Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: FKW on 2010-05-01
Beaufort Co.
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Phaecasiophora niveiguttanaRecorded by: FKW on 2009-05-19
Gates Co.
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