Moths of North Carolina

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Amydria effrenatella Clemens, 1859 - Brown-blotched Amydria

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tineoidea

Family:
Tineidae

Subfamily:
[Acrolophinae]

Tribe:
[Acrolophini]

P3 Number:
300046

MONA Number:
334.00

Comments: Amydria is a taxonomically challenging genus and in need of a major revision. There appear to be numerous undescribed species in North America, as well as several described species that have very similar external markings. Several forms that appear to be undescribed species occur in North Carolina (J.B. Sullivan, pers. comm.), as well as at least three described species. Identification is most reliable when using either genitalia and/or molecular barcoding. Except in instances where genitalia have been examined, our assignment of specimens to particular species is best viewed as being provisional.

Species Status: As currently recognized, Amydria effrenatella is a wide-ranging species that likely comprises a species complex. BOLD shows seven BINS, with many associated with western populations.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Dietz (1905)

Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on that of Dietz (1905). The general color is ocherous. The head crest varies from dirty white to light tan, while the antenna is robust, slightly more than one-half the wing length, with closely-set segments. The labial palp is curved and pointed, with a whitish terminal segment that terminates above the head. The dense brush on the labial palp is dark gray to blackish on the bottom and whitish near the top. The thorax and ground color of the forewing vary from dull white to light ocherous yellow, and are overlain with varying amounts of darker flecking and spotting. The forewing is rather wide, with the costa mildly curved from the base and again towards the rounded apex. The basal portion of the dorsal margin has groups of dark fuscous scales that are sometimes aggregated into more or less, transverse strigulations. The apical half of the dorsal margin has a series of small, dark spots that continue around the outer margin onto the costa where they can often extend nearly to the base. The costa typically has four relatively large, dark marks, including a dark blotch at the base, a large spot or patch at around one-fourth the costal length, and a pair of spots or patches at around three-fifths. The latter two adjoin a relatively large blotch near the center of the wing that often is connected to one or both of the costal spots. Additional dark marks include two or three, short, longitudinal streaks or blotches in the basal half of the wing towards the middle, and a small sub-tornal spot. The hindwing varies from gray to light brown and is unmarked.

Wingspan: 16-20 mm (Dietz, 1905).

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: As currently recognized, A. effrenatella is widely distributed across much of the US and southern Canada. This species is likely a species complex (see BOLD), and the range of the forms that occur in the eastern US are poorly documented.

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: The adults are most commonly on the wing from May through September, but can be active nearly year round in Alabama and perhaps other southern locales. As of 2024, our records extend from mid-May through early-October.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Larval Host Plants: The larval food resources are unknown. Other species in this genus are reported to feed on detritus. - View

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks:

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

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Amydria effrenatella - Brown-blotched Amydria

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

	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-31 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-29 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-08-13 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 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 2024-07-11 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-22 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-19 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-15 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-15 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-11 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-10 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-09-12 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-09-12 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-18 Caswell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-10 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-26 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-16 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-07-15 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-10 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-09 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, John Petranka on 2023-07-07 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2023-07-06 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-06 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-04 Orange Co. Comment: