Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Zygaenidae Members:	Acoloithus Members:	57 NC Records

Acoloithus falsarius Clemens, 1860 - Clemens' False Skeletonizer Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Zygaenoidea

Family:
Zygaenidae

P3 Number:
57a0002

MONA Number:
4629.00

Species Status: The larvae and adults of members of the Zygaenidae contain linamarin and lotaustralin, which are two compounds that can be taken in when the larvae feed on plants or synthesized directly by some species. The compounds undergo enzymatic breakdown to release toxic, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) as a defense against predators (Hall, 2015). The toxin adults are frequently active during the day, and many are members of mimicry complexes.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Adult Markings: In this species the entire moth is uniformly black except for a contrastingly orange collar that is interrupted with black scales in the middle. Both the males and females have pectinate antennae and the forewings are normally held together when an individual is resting. The abdomen is short and broad, and lacks scale tufts at the tip.

Acoloithus falsarius is often confused with Harrisina americana, but the latter is larger, has an orange collar that is complete, has an expanded abdomen tip with a prominent scale tuft, and typically rest with the wings held out at an angle. Acoloithus falsarius also resembles Cisseps fulvicollis, but the latter has sooty brown forewings, an orange collar that is complete, and additional orange coloration on the back of the head and along the basal portion of the costa. Ctenucha virginica is another species that is similar in coloration, but is much larger, has broader wings, and has an iridescent blue thorax. It has not yet been observed south of Virginia, but may eventually be found in North Carolina.

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on the leaves of members of the Vitaceae, particularly native grapes, but details of the larval life cycle are largely lacking. The females lay small numbers of eggs on leaves and the larvae do not feed communally as seen in Harrisina americana. They skeletonize the leaves and pupate within flattened, oval cocoons with densely spun silk. Late-instar larvae have occasionally been found on the leaves of pawpaws, sycamores and other plants, which suggests that the larvae may wander in search of pupation sites. They older instars are stout and broad with a retractile head and clumps of setae along the sides. The body is reddish-brown to olive-brown with a median dorsal stripe and two darker diffuse crossbands, with one behind the thorax and the second on the terminal fourth of the body.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Acoloithus falsarius is found throughout most of the eastern US and in adjoining areas of southern Ontario and Quebec. In the US the range extends from New Hamshire and Vermont southward to southern Florida and westward to central Texas, eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, eastern Kansas, eastern Nebraska, Illinois and Michigan. Scattered populations also occur in western Texas and northern Mexico. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina except at the higher elevations of the Blue Ridge.

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
Immature 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 fly from March through November in the southernmost areas of the range such as the Florida and Texas, and generally from April through September elsewhere. Populations in North Carolina appear to be bivoltine, with adults first flying in April and May and then again in July through early August.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are commonly found in settings that support native grapes such as hardwood and mixed pine-hardwood forests, river banks, forest edges, roadways, fields, utility corridors, fencerows and residential areas.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on members of the Vitaceae (Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2008), including peppervines (Ampelopsis), Muscadine (Muscadinia rotundifolia) and other native grapes (Vitis spp.). There are iNaturalist records of larvae on grape in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are mildly attracted to lights, but are more often seen during the day either resting on vegetation or nectaring on flowering plants.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Vitaceous Tangles

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: Populations are widespread within North Carolina, but locally restricted due to their dependence of native grapes.

Photo Gallery for Acoloithus falsarius - Clemens' False Skeletonizer Moth

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-30 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-25 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-08-22 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-07-23 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-07-17 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-04 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-07-01 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-25 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2025-05-08 Nash Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-08-12 Pamlico Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-26 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-06 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-02 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2023-08-19 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2023-08-19 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-18 Caswell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-26 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-25 Greene Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-18 Chowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-17 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-20 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall, Jim Petranka, and Bo Sullivan on 2021-05-09 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-07-29 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-25 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-07-24 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-03 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-04-27 Craven Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-04-27 Craven Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-04-26 Craven Co. Comment: