Moths of North Carolina

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Monopis longella (Walker, 1863) - Pavlovski's Monopis

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tineoidea

Family:
Tineidae

Subfamily:
Tineinae

Tribe:
[Tineini]

P3 Number:
300169.1

MONA Number:
418.10

MONA Synonym:
Monopis pavlovski

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Adult Markings: This is a distinctively marked small moth that is difficult to confuse with any other species other than M. monachella. The head, head tuft, and thorax are white to yellowish white. The antenna is dark brown near the base and becomes progressively lighter near the tip. The base color of the wing is dark brown to bluish black and often has a few scattered whitish scales intermixed. There are three or more patches of raised scales that run parallel to the inner margin and are centered at about one-half the wing length. The most conspicuous mark is a large white to pale yellow patch that begins on the costa and terminates just before the apex. The anterior edge slants posteriorly to the middle of the wing then angles posteriorly as a concave depression. The depression runs roughly parallel to the costa before tapering back to the costa. A darker stained area occurs within the patch along the costa. A semi-hyaline area that appears light rusty brown is usually evident just dorsal to the patch. Monopis monachella is similar buts lacks the dark stained area within the large costal patch. This species is more northern and has not been found in North Carolina as of 2020.

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae are detritivores and scavengers that are known to feed on bird feathers. Nasu et al. (2012) and Sato et al. (2019) found larvae to be common in owl nests in Japan where they likely fed on droppings, feathers, and other organic debris. Adults have been attracted and reared by putting mesh bags full of feathers in outdoor settings.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Monopis longella is an exotic species that is native to southeastern Asia. Populations are widespread across eastern North America, including extreme southern Canada and much of the eastern US. The range in the US extends from Maine to Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, Missouri Illinois, and Michigan. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina from coastal regions 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 have been collected from February through November in areas outside of the North Carolina, with the adults most active in late summer. Populations in North Carolina appear to be bivoltine, with an initial brood in late spring or early summer, and an apparent second brood in late summer and early autumn.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Sato et al. (2019) found that this species strongly preferred owl nests in forested settings in Japan. We have many records from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods as well as natural, forested habitats.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are detritivores and scavengers that feed on bird feathers, bird dropping, and organic debris in bird nests (Huang et al., 2011; Nasu et al., 2012; Sato et al. 2019). - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to light. The larvae have not been found in the US, but presumably use bird nests here as in their native range.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for Exotic Invaded Habitats

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNA

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

Comments: This species is exotic and does not merit protection.

Photo Gallery for Monopis longella - Pavlovski's Monopis

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

	Recorded by: Larry Chen and Sarah Toner on 2025-08-25 Dare Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-23 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-23 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-25 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-25 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-19 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-19 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-21 Wayne Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-04 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-09-18 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-09-11 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-01 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-05-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-05-04 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-05-04 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, David Bradley, Tracy Feldman, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-25 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-04-08 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-08 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-07 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-26 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-10-19 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-18 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-10-31 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-10-31 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-10-15 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Richard Teper, Lior Carlson on 2022-10-15 Orange Co. Comment: