Moths of North Carolina
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Significant Contributors
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ACROLEPIIDAE-
ADELIDAE-
AMPHISBATIDAE-
AUTOSTICHIDAE-
BATRACHEDRIDAE-
BEDELLIIDAE-
BLASTOBASIDAE-
BOMBYCIDAE-
BUCCULATRICIDAE-
CARPOSINIDAE-
CHOREUTIDAE-
COLEOPHORIDAE-
COSMOPTERIGIDAE-
COSSIDAE-
CRAMBIDAE-
DEPRESSARIIDAE-
DREPANIDAE-
ELACHISTIDAE-
EPERMENIIDAE-
EPIPYROPIDAE-
EREBIDAE-Erebid Moths
ERIOCRANIIDAE-
EUTELIIDAE-
GALACTICIDAE-
GELECHIIDAE-
GEOMETRIDAE-
GLYPHIDOCERIDAE-
GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE-
GRACILLARIIDAE-
HELIOZELIDAE-
HEPIALIDAE-
HYBLAEIDAE-
INCURVARIIDAE-
LASIOCAMPIDAE-
LECITHOCERIDAE-Long-horned Moths
LIMACODIDAE-
LYONETIIDAE-
MEGALOPYGIDAE-Flannel Moths
MICROPTERIGIDAE-
MIMALLONIDAE-
MOMPHIDAE-Mompha Moths
NEPTICULIDAE-
NOCTUIDAE-Owlet Moths
NOLIDAE-
NOTODONTIDAE-
OECOPHORIDAE-
OPOSTEGIDAE-
PELEOPODIDAE-
PLUTELLIDAE-
PRODOXIDAE-
PSYCHIDAE-Bagworm Moths
PTEROPHORIDAE-
PYRALIDAE-
SATURNIIDAE-Saturniids
SCHRECKENSTEINIIDAE-
SESIIDAE-
SPHINGIDAE-Sphinx Moths
THYATIRIDAE-
THYRIDIDAE-
TINEIDAE-
TISCHERIIDAE-
TORTRICIDAE-
URANIIDAE-
URODIDAE-
XYLORYCTIDAE-
YPONOMEUTIDAE-
YPSOLOPHIDAE-
ZYGAENIDAE-
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Tineidae Members:
Acrolophus arcanella
Acrolophus cressoni
Acrolophus forbesi
Acrolophus mortipennella
Acrolophus morus
Acrolophus mycetophagus
Acrolophus panamae
Acrolophus piger
Acrolophus plumifrontella
Acrolophus popeanella
Acrolophus propinqua
Acrolophus simulatus
Acrolophus texanella
Acrolophus unidentified species
Amydria brevipennella
Amydria clemensella
Amydria effrentella
Amydria unidentified species
Diachorisia unidentified species
Diachorisia velatella
Eccritothrix guenterella
Elatobia carbonella
Homosetia argentinotella
Homosetia bifasciella
Homosetia costisignella
Homosetia fasciella
Homosetia tricingulatella
Homosetia unidentified species
Homostinea curviliniella
Hybroma servulella
Isocorypha mediostriatella
Kearfottia albifasciella
Leucomele miriamella
Mea bipunctella
Mea skinnerella
Monopis crocicapitella
Monopis dorsistrigella
Monopis longella
Monopis marginistrigella
Monopis unidentified species
Montescardia fuscofasciella
Nemapogon acapnopennella
Nemapogon angulifasciella
Nemapogon auropulvella
Nemapogon clematella
Nemapogon interstitiella
Nemapogon multistriatella
Nemapogon rileyi
Nemapogon unidentified species
Nemapogon variatella
Niditinea fuscella
Niditinea orleansella
Niditinea sabroskyi
Niditinea unidentified species
Oenoe hybromella
Oenoe unidentified species
Pelecystola nearctica
Phereoeca uterella
Philonome clemensella
Scardia amurensis
Scardia anatomella
Scardiella approximatella
Setomorpha rutella
Stenoptinea unidentified species
Tinea apicimaculella
Tinea carnariella
Tinea croceoverticella
Tinea mandarinella
Tinea pellionella complex
Tinea unidentified species
Tineidae unidentified species
Tineola bisselliella
Trichophaga tapetzella
Xylesthia pruniramiella
Xylesthia unidentified species
Xystrologa unidentified species
Acrolophus
Members:
Acrolophus arcanella
Acrolophus cressoni
Acrolophus forbesi
Acrolophus mortipennella
Acrolophus morus
Acrolophus mycetophagus
Acrolophus panamae
Acrolophus piger
Acrolophus plumifrontella
Acrolophus popeanella
Acrolophus propinqua
Acrolophus simulatus
Acrolophus texanella
Acrolophus unidentified species
30 NC Records
Acrolophus propinqua
(Walsingham, 1887) - Walsingham's Grass Tubeworm Moth
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tineoidea
Family:
Tineidae
Subfamily:
[Acrolophinae]
Tribe:
[Acrolophini]
P3 Number:
300063.00
MONA Number:
374.00
MONA Synonym:
Acrolophus propinquus
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:
Online Photographs:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
Technical Description, Adults:
Hasbrouck (1964)
Adult Markings:
This species varies widely in size and color. Several forms were described as separate species by earlier workers that were later treated as being conspecific with
Acrolophus propinqua
(Hasbrouck, 1964). Most forms are fairly plain and lack conspicuous spots or streaks of color. The form "busckellus" differs from typical forms by having a whitish streak along the inner margin, and in being speckled with several dark brown spots (Haimbach, cited by Hasbrouck, 1964). The males of
A. propinqua
have elongated palps that reach the posterior margin of the thorax. They are densely covered with hairy scales and are most typically fuscous, but sometimes darker and almost blackish in some color forms. The male antenna is stout, serrated, reddish to reddish brown, and lacks complete rings of raised scales around the segments. The head, thorax, and forewings are commonly reddish brown to purplish fuscous. The forewings often lack any conspicuous markings, but may be faintly brindled with dark marks. They sometimes have faint dark spotting on the termen and costa. The females are similar, but have short palps that are either held slightly erect or project forward. This species is most reliably identified by genitalic characters.
Wingspan:
26-34 mm (Hasbrouck, 1964, citing several different descriptions).
Adult Structural Features:
Hasbrouck (1964) has detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male genitalia. The antenna and palps are similar to those of
A. plumifrontella
,
A. mortipennella
, and
A. popeanella
. The male antenna is stout, serrated, and typically cinereous in color. These species also lack complete rings of raised scales around the segments. The eyes are setose, and the palps of the males extend across the thorax. Hasbrouck (1964) relied primarily on male genitalic features in lumping several forms previously described as distinct species based on maculation.
Adult ID Requirements:
Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development:
The larval life history is undocumented.
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
Hasbrouck (1964) found this species to be widespread in the central and eastern United States, with the range extending from Missouri and Arkansas eastward to Massachusetts and Florida. As of 2020, our records extend from the western Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont to the 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 fly from April through September in areas outside of North Carolina, with a seasonal peak in June and July. As of 2020, our records extend from May through September, with most in June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
The larval hosts are undocumented and it is uncertain if this species is dependent on specific hosts to complete the life cycle.
Larval Host Plants:
The hosts are unknown. Many
Acrolophus
live in underground burrows and feed on the roots and young shoots of grasses and herbs. However, there are exceptions and the life history of the larval stage remains undocumented.
Observation Methods:
Both the males and females 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:
We currently do not have sufficient information on the distribution, abundance, and habitat requirements of this species to assess its conservation status.
Photo Gallery for
Acrolophus propinqua
- Walsingham's Grass Tubeworm Moth
Photos: 23
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-07-02
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-07-02
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-13
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-13
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-11
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-11
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-09
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-09
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stefanie Hedrick on 2022-06-06
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2022-06-01
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-05-31
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-07-10
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-07-10
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-07-10
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-06
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-06-28
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2021-06-19
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-06-14
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-06-14
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-06-14
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-06-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-06-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2017-06-19
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: