Moths of North Carolina
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59 NC Records

Eudonia strigalis (Dyar, 1906) - Striped Eudonia Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: ScopariinaeTribe: [Scopariini]P3 Number: 801004.00 MONA Number: 4738.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1972a)Technical Description, Immature Stages: George Smiley (BugGuide)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Eudonia strigalis is easily identified by its heavily streaked appearance (Scholtens, 2017). The ground color of the forewing is typically dull white to pale gray and is heavily dusted with darker gray or light brown specks. The antemedial and postmedial lines are often vaguely represented, with the postmedial being somewhat dentate to strongly angulate or excurved opposite the cell. The reniform, orbicular and claviform spots are represented as black longitudinal streaks. Dark streaks are also present in the basal area, with the most prominent one immediately anterior to -- and sometimes connected to -- the claviform streak. A number of streaks are also present in the subterminal area. In particular, most specimens have a pair of closely abutting streaks near the middle of the outer margin that run roughly parallel to each other. The fringe is pale to whitish with a median dark line that is regularly interrupted.
Wingspan: 5.5-7.5 mm (Munroe, 1972)
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1972) has descriptions of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: George Smiley (BugGuide) observed a late-instar larva feeding on mosses that were growing on a Bald Cypress. The larva was 12 mm long and dull green with four dark greenish-brown spots on each abdominal segment. The head and prothoracic shield were dark greenish-brown. An adult emerged about three weeks after two larvae were collected and reared, which indicates a brief pupation period. Smiley noted that the larvae construct tunnel-like shelters in moss mats that are formed out of frass, silk, and bits of debris. They extend their bodies out of the shelters when feeding on mosses.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Eudonia strigalis is found throughout most of the eastern US and adjoining areas of southern Canada from Ontario eastward to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The range in the US extends from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, eastern Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota. This species appears to occur essentially statewide, although as of 2023 we do not have records for the higher elevations in the Blue Ridge and the northern Coastal Plain.
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 year-round in southern localities such as Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana, and from May through September farther north. Southern populations presumably have two or more generations per year, while populations in the northernmost areas of the range appearing to be univoltine. Many populations in North Carolina appear to be bivoltine. As of 2023, we have records that range from late-February through early November.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: We have records from hardwood forests and semi-wooded residential neighborhoods. The larvae feed on mosses, and mesic or hydric habitats that have moss mats appear to be essential habitats for this species.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae appear to specialize on mosses, but more observations are needed on their food resources. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. We need observations of microhabitat use and food resources of the larvae.
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: This species appears to be somewhat uncommon in North Carolina, perhaps due to its dependence on moss mats as larval microhabitats.

 Photo Gallery for Eudonia strigalis - Striped Eudonia Moth

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

Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-11-08
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-08
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-04
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-04
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2023-08-17
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-24
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2023-07-22
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-19
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-25
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-17
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-06
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-12
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-20
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2023-03-28
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2023-02-22
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-19
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-05-19
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-10-08
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-10-08
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2021-09-14
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-09-10
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2021-08-10
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-05-21
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-21
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-05-19
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-11-07
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-13
Madison Co.
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