Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Tineidae Members:	Acrolophus Members:	171 NC Records

Acrolophus plumifrontella (Clemens, 1859) - Eastern Grass Tubeworm Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tineoidea

Family:
Tineidae

Subfamily:
[Acrolophinae]

Tribe:
[Acrolophini]

P3 Number:
300087.3

MONA Number:
372.00

Comments: The genus Acrolophus is a mostly neotropical taxon with over 250 described species, including 54 that are currently recognized in North America. The labial palps on the males of many species are very elongated and densely hairy. The larvae of some species live in silk-lined burrows in the ground and feed on the roots and young shoots of grasses and herbs. However, the life histories of most species remain undocumented and in need of study. Members of this genus were previously placed in their own family (Acrolophidae), but they are now treated as a subgroup within the Tineidae based on molecular phylogenetic studies.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Leckie and Beadle (2018)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Hasbrouck (1964)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: .

Adult Markings: This is one of the largest and most robust species in this genus in North America (Hasbrouck, 1964). The forewings are typically colored with a mixture of rubescent and maroon brown, and the males have prominent, densely scaled palps. The following detailed description is based in part on information in Hasbrouck (1964). The recurved, elongated labial palp of the male is heavily scaled and extends over the head before terminating near the posterior end of the thorax. The head, thorax, upper portions of the legs, and labial palps are covered with a thick, elongated vestiture of reddish brown hair-like scales with paler dusting near the ends. Collectively, they create a rather distinctive 'helmeted' appearance. The antenna of the male is brown and extends beyond the palps to about one-fourth the wing length. The ground color of the forewing varies from reddish tan to various shades of reddish brown, with grayish, blackish, and reddish brown scales intermixed. A wide, maroon, reticulate pattern often overlays much of the wing. It tends to be centrally located and extends from near the base to near the wing terminus. Individuals vary, and the reticulate pattern is sometimes represented as a series of darker zig-zagging blotches, or is even further reduced and largely missing. The fringe is grayish to dark brown and tends to be slightly darker than the forewing color. The hindwing is dusky brown. The females are generally similar, but the helmeted vestiture is reduced, the palps project forward, and the dark reticulation on the forewings is more subdued or missing.

Wingspan: 36 mm, males (Hasbrouck, 1964); 2.6 - 3.6 cm (Covell, 1984)

Adult Structural Features: Hasbrouck (1964) has detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male genitalia. He also notes that A. plumifrontella is related to a group of species that all have elongate labial palps, setose eyes, laminate antennae, a bifid uncus, and paired gnathos. It may be easily distinguished by its harpes, each of which bears a large and prominent costal process overlapping the cucullus. This process causes the cucullus of the harpe to appear as a double or divided structure.

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Acrolophus plumifrontella is found across a large swath of the eastern and central US. The range extends from New Hampshire and Connecticut southward to southern Florida, and westward to Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.

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 documented from February through November in areas outside of North Carolina, with a seasonal peak in June and July. As of 2020, our records extend from early June to early August, with peak activity in June and July.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The specific habitat requirements are unknown due to the lack of information on the larval life history. We have records from both residential neighborhoods and more natural areas.

Larval Host Plants: The hosts are poorly documented. Robinson et al. (2010) list strawberries (Fragaria spp.) as a host, but we are uncertain of the source of this information. Heppner (2007) reports grasses are used as hosts, but it is unclear if this is based on actual observation or just inferred based on the hosts of other Acrolophus species. - View

Observation Methods: The adults visit 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 is a common and widespread species in the eastern US and appears to be secure.

Photo Gallery for Acrolophus plumifrontella - Eastern Grass Tubeworm Moth

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

	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-06-30 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-25 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-22 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-20 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-06-18 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-06-17 Alamance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-06-11 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick 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: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-07-24 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-15 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-15 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-14 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-07-13 Wake Co. Comment: