Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Tineidae Members:	Oenoe Members:	29 NC Records

Oenoe hybromella Chambers, 1874 - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tineoidea

Family:
Tineidae

Subfamily:
Meessiinae

Tribe:
[Meessiini]

P3 Number:
300124

MONA Number:
283.00

Comments: Oenoe is a small genus with only one species in the eastern US.

Species Status: Oenoe hybromella as currently described may consists of two cryptic species based on genitalic comparisons (BugGuide note from Terry Harrison).

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Chambers (1874), Forbes (1923)

Adult Markings: The following description is based in part of that of Chambers (1874). The dorsum of the head is brown posteriorly, but phases into yellowish white anteriorly, with the tufts projecting forward. The labial palp has brown and silver gray intermixed, and the second joint is one-third longer than the third. The antenna is grayish fuscous and becomes more silvery towards the tip. It is nearly two-thirds as long as the forewing and filiform. The thorax is dark brown and the forewing lanceolate. The basal half of the forewing is dark brown, with a yellowish white spot often evident about midway. The brown posterior edge runs against a narrow, erect, silvery fascia. The remainder of the wing is white to yellowish white and irregularly dusted with dark brown scales. These are organized into larger irregular blotches along the costa and in the apical portion of the wing. The cilia are off white to light tan with a dark and rather poorly formed line near the base. The hindwing is brownish and very narrow with a conspicuous fringe.

Wingspan: 8-9 mm (Forbes, 1923)

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The larval life history and ecology is undocumented.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Oenoe hybromella is found in eastern North America from Ontario and Massachusetts southward to Georgia and Alabama, and westward to eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, Illinois, and Minnesota. As of 2020, our records span from the northeastern Coastal Plain to the lower elevations in the mountains.

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 in areas outside of North Carolina from April through September, with most between June and August. As of 2020, our records extends from late May through mid-September, with a peak in late June through July.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The required habitats are poorly documented. We have specimens from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods as well as more natural forested habitats.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae have not been found, but are probably either detritivores, scavengers, or fungivores like most tineids and do not require specific plant hosts. - View

Observation Methods: The adults occasionally visit lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU

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

Comments: This species appears to be somewhat uncommon throughout its range, but more detailed information is needed on populations within the state before we can assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Oenoe hybromella - None

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-07-24 Madison Co. Comment: Specimen was dissected (female; FWL = 3 mm).		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-07-25 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-07 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Swain Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-21 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-27 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-25 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-06 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-14 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-26 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-26 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-05-17 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2021-07-04 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-22 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-09 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-27 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2020-05-24 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2019-07-29 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-07-11 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-07-11 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-08 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-08 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2018-07-25 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2014-06-01 Gates Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2013-07-07 Wake Co. Comment: Worn specimen.		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2011-09-11 Wake Co. Comment: