Moths of North Carolina
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17 NC Records

Thaumatographa jonesi (Brower, 1953) - Psychedelic Jones Moth

Thaumatographa jonesiThaumatographa jonesiThaumatographa jonesiThaumatographa jonesi
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: ChlidanotinaeTribe: HilarographiniP3 Number: 51a1395 MONA Number: 3751.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Brower (1953)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Thaumatographa jonesi is a strikingly patterned micromoth that hardly needs describing. The forewing ground color is blackish and has a prominent yellowish-orangish longitudinal streak on the costal third that extends to the middle of the wing. The distal two-thirds has a series of colorful curved bands that project distally from both the costa and inner margin and converge towards the costal third of the wing. Along the costa, these consist of broad orange bands that alternate with narrower bands that begin as white on the costa and quickly phase into silvery or leadened scales. The bands that project from the inner margin are mostly silvery white with a few orangish bands in between. The ocellus is orange with 4-5 black, horizontal dashes and is bordered distally and proximally by a silvery or leadened band. The fringe is mostly dull gray and is cut with a white dash below the apex, while the hindwing is dark brown.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Thaumatographa jonesi is mostly found in the southeastern US, with the range extending from New Hampshire and Massachusetts southward to central Florida and westward to eastern Texas, northern Mississippi and western Tennessee. There is also one reported record from south-central Ohio.
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 have been observed from May through November in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in most areas from August through October. Populations in North Carolina are univoltine. As of 2023 our records extend from mid-August through early October.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats are poorly documented. Most of our records are from sites with pine forests or residential areas with pine trees.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts 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 [S3S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Thaumatographa jonesi appears to be somewhat uncommon in North Carolina. Additional information is needed on host use, preferred habitats, and abundance before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Thaumatographa jonesi - Psychedelic Jones Moth

Photos: 13

Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2021-10-04
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2021-09-19
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-09-13
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-09-09
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-09-09
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-10-02
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Patrick Coin on 2020-09-22
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-08-31
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-08-31
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, K. Kittelberger on 2014-09-18
Vance Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: W. Cook photos on 2013-09-28
Columbus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: D.L. Stephan on 1980-08-13
Wake Co.
Comment: NCSU collection