Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFTineidae Members: 20 NC Records

Tinea mandarinella Dietz, 1905 - Mandarin Tinea Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tineoidea Family: TineidaeSubfamily: TineinaeTribe: [Tineini]P3 Number: 300152.00 MONA Number: 400.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Leckie and Beadle, 2018Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONATechnical Description, Adults: Dietz (1905) and Forbes (1923)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following descrition is primarily based on Dietz (1905) and Forbes (1923). The head and tuft are pale yellowish and the antenna fuscous. The labial palps are pale yellowish white and tinged with fuscous beneath. The thorax is grayish fuscous to pale yellowish and the tegula deep brown. The forewing is two-toned, with most being dark brown or fuscous with scattered yellowish scales. This contrast with a light yellow, sinuous, longitudinal streak that extends along the inner margin to about three-fifths its length (sometimes extending all the way to the fringe). The streak extends inward to about one-third the wing depth and is often sprinkled with dark brown scales. At about one-third and two-thirds, the dark portion projects into the yellow streak as a semi-circular spot or dark scalloped region. There is a yellow spot or blotch on the costa just before the apex. The cilia are pale yellow, with the basal part concolorous with the wing. The hindwing is light brown and unicolorous. The legs are yellowish and dusted with fuscous, with the tarsal joints spotted with fuscous. The abdomen is fuscous above and paler at the base. Specimens are variable in terms of the degree to which the yellow longitudinal streak continues along the inner margin. On some specimens the streak continues to the fringe and may even fuse with or fade into the yellow costal blotch. Monopis crocicapitella is very similar, but lacks the sub-apical costal blotch and has a semi-hyaline discal spot at the middle of the wing.
Forewing Length: 4-5 mm TL (Leckie and Beadle, 2018)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval ecology and life history are undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Tinea mandarinella is found in the eastern US from Maine southward to Florida, and westward to Illinois, Oklahoma, and eastern Texas.
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 are active year-round in Florida, and from April through October in other areas of the range. As of 2020, we have records from mid-April through July. Local populations in North Carolina are univoltine, with seasonal peaks in April and May.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The habitats are poorly documented. We have many records from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods, as well as a few from more natural forested sites. The larvae are probably scavengers or detritivores and do not show strong preferences for particular habitat types.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are unknown. This species is very likely a detritivore, scavenger, or fungivore like many other Tinea species.
Observation Methods: The adults visit lights occasionally.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: As of 2020, we have only a few site records for this species. Additional information on its distribution and abundance is needed to assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Tinea mandarinella - Mandarin Tinea Moth

Photos: 12

Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-06
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-07-30
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-08
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-05-31
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-05-31
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-17
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2020-05-17
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2012-05-04
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2012-05-04
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2012-05-03
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: E. Corey, T. DeSantis on 2012-04-17
Onslow Co.
Comment: