Moths of North Carolina
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38 NC Records

Scardiella approximatella (Dietz, 1905) - Banded Scardiella

Scardiella approximatellaScardiella approximatellaScardiella approximatellaScardiella approximatella
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tineoidea Family: TineidaeSubfamily: ScardiinaeTribe: [Scardiini]P3 Number: 300205 MONA Number: 308.00
Comments: Scardiella is a monotypic genus with a single known species from North America.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Robinson (1986)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based primarily on those of Dietz (1905) and Robinson (1986). The head is cream-colored and slightly tinged with brown. The labial palp is long, curved, ascending, and pale yellowish. The second joint is flecked with brown on the outer surface, with a brown brush beneath. The third joint is as long as the second and is tinged with brown on the outer surface of its basal half. The antenna is grayish brown with darker annulations. The thorax is cream-colored and the patagia brownish anteriorly. The forewing has a yellowish-white ground color with scattered, pale orangish brown scales. The most prominent mark is a dark brown fascia at about one-half the wing length that tends to be more irregular on the basal side. An extension from the basal side usually joins an oblique fascia that extends from near the base of the costa posteriorly, then ends before reaching the inner margin. The final conspicuous mark is a subterminal dark streak that run from the costa just before the apex, then curves anteriorly before terminating near the middle of the wing. A small dark spot is usually present on the costa immediate anterior to this streak. The cilia is pale, with a distinct line near the base. There is another wider but less clearly defined line near the outer edge of the forewing. These lines are interrupted by light bars that tend to produce a checkered pattern. The hindwing is as wide as the forewing, pale gray, and slightly tinged with fuscous. The cilia are slightly lighter, with a pale basal and a sub-basal line. The legs are buff cream, with the foreleg and mid-leg strongly marked with dark brown above. The tarsal joints of the anterior and middle pair are dark brown with pale bands at the apex. The hindleg is similar but lighter colored.
Wingspan: 13-16 mm Robinson (1986)
Adult Structural Features: Robinson (1986) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia. He noted that the antennal cilia of the male are extremely long relative to other members of the Scardiinae.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Very little is known about the larval ecology and life history. Forbes (1923) reported that the larvae were found in a rotten sycamore log where they were presumably feeding on fungi. The larvae were not described.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Scardiella approximatella is found in eastern North America, including extreme southern Canada (Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec) and almost all of the US east of the Mississippi. As of 2020, all of our records are from the Piedmont and 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 can be found year-round in Florida, and from April through September in other areas outside on North Carolina. The peak seasonal activity is from June through August. As of 2020, our records are from mid-May through mid-August. Populations appear to be single-brooded in North Carolina.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The required habitats are undocumented. This species is a fungivore that appears to feed in rotting logs or dead trees. It is likely associated with habitats with hardwood trees. We have records from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods and from a natural forested site in the mountains.
Larval Host Plants: This species belongs to a group of tineids (Scardiinae) whose members are all believed to be fungal specialists. The larvae feed in either the fruiting bodies of bracket fungi, or in the wood of dead or moribound trees that have been permeated with the fungal hyphae (Robinson, 1986). Forbes (1923) reported that larvae were found in a rotten sycamore log where they were presumably feeding on fungal hyphae. - 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: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: We have only eight site records as of 2020, which suggests that this species is either uncommon or is not strongly attracted to lights. Additional information on its distribution and abundance is needed before we can assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Scardiella approximatella - Banded Scardiella

Photos: 26

Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14
Watauga Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-12
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-10
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-08-17
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-09
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-06
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-13
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-30
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-06-13
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-06-13
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-06
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-08
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-15
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-15
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-08-10
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-07-19
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-15
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-15
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2016-06-02
Wake Co.
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