Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Tineidae Members:	Kearfottia Members:	61 NC Records

Kearfottia albifasciella Fernald, 1904 - White-patched Kearfottia

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tineoidea

Family:
Tineidae

Subfamily:
Tineidae-unplaced

Tribe:
[Tineidae-unplaced]

P3 Number:
300007.5n

MONA Number:
319.00

Other Common Name:
Kearfott's White-banded Moth

Comments: Kearfottia is a monotypic genus that has been placed in the both the family Tineidae and Psychidae by different experts.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: (Leckie and Beadle, 2018)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)

Adult Markings: This is an easily recognizable species. The basal and apical thirds of the forewing are deep brown and contrast sharply with the middle third, which is cream white to white and wavy on the posterior margin. The head, thorax, and antenna are also deep brown, and the antenna is slightly less than half the length of the forewing. There are usually several dark spots along the costa and two or three along the dorsal margin of the cream-colored band. The legs are dark above on the proximal half, with light and dark banding on the tarsi.

Wingspan: 8-12 mm (Forbes, 1923)

Forewing Length: 5-7 mm (Leckie and Beadle, 2018)

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

Immatures and Development: The life history of the larval stage is undocumented.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Kearfottia albifasciella is found in eastern North America, and is widespread throughout much of the eastern US and southern Ontario and Quebec. The range in the US extends from Maine and other New England states southward to Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina, but is most prevalent in the Piedmont and lower elevations of 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 recorded from areas outside of North Carolina from May through November, with the peak in seasonal activity in June and July. As of 2020, our records late-May through late-August, with most from June and July. Local populations appear to be single brooded.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The habitats are poorly documented, but this species seems to be associated with hardwood forests. Most of our records are from semi-wooded neighborhoods or more natural forested sites. The larvae have never been reported, and it is uncertain whether they depend on particular plant hosts or not.

Larval Host Plants: The hosts and feeding ecology are unknown. This species was traditionally placed in the family Tineidae, but some place it in the Psychidae. Most tineids feed on substances other than living plants (e.g., feathers, scat; detritus), while many psychids feed on living plant material. As such, there is much guesswork about the presumed dietary niche of this species. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4S5]

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 widespread and somewhat common throughout the state.

Photo Gallery for Kearfottia albifasciella - White-patched Kearfottia

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

	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-07-05 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-07-05 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-26 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-26 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-17 Lincoln Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-17 Lincoln Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-11 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2024-06-06 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-16 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-16 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30 Swain Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-24 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-13 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-07 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-27 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-06-21 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-06-13 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-12 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-30 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-07-26 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2021-07-16 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-25 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-24 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-20 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-18 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-18 Madison Co. Comment: