Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFTortricidae Members:
Epiblema Members:
5 NC Records

Epiblema adusta Wright and Gilligan, 2023 - No Common Name

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Taxonomy
Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 51a1069n MONA Number: 3174.30
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Wright and Gilligan (2023)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based on that of Wright and Gilligan (2023). The labial palp has the medial surface white and the lateral surfaces pale tan. The frons is whitish, the vertex is tan, and the antenna is brown above. The thorax is pale brown and the forewing is medium brown with extensive blackish-brown suffusion. A blackish-brown line extends from the wing base through the center of the wing before bending at around one-half the wing length to the tornus. The interfascial spot is tan and usually extends from the inner margin to the blackish-brown line that runs from the base to the tornus. It is sometimes only weakly discernable. The sub-basal fascia is either obscure or missing, and the median fascia is represented by a blackish-brown, quadrate, pretornal mark. The postmedian fascia is dark brown, thin, and often interrupted near the costa. The ocellus is pinkish and usually has a brown longitudinal central dash and a black spot at the anterior extremity. The costal strigulae are white, with their expression often subdued, and separated by thin brown lines that extend towards the termen. The fringe is pale brown, and the hindwing is brownish-gray with a pale fringe. According to Wright and Gilligan (2023), Epiblema adusta is the smallest member of the strenuana group (mean forewing length = 5.3 mm versus 5.5-7.1 mm for other group members) and is the only member that has a medium brown forewing.
Forewing Length: 4.4-5.6 mm (mean = 5 mm) for males, and 5.3-6.3 mm (mean = 5.8 mm) for females (Wright and Gilligan, 2023).
Adult Structural Features: Wright and Gilligan (2023) has descriptions and illustrations of the genitalia, along with features that distinguish this species from E. strenuana.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Epiblema adusta is found in coastal habitats in the southeastern U.S. Wright and Gilligan (2023) identified specimens from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and North Carolina. As of 2023, our records are all from coastal communities in Carteret 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)

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Flight Comments: The adults have been found from March through September, with North Carolina records extending from mid-July through early September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The adults have been found in coastal dunes, savannas and prairies.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S1S2]
State Protection:
Comments: This recently described species appears to be rare both in North Carolina and throughout its range.