Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Chrysendeton Members:	65 NC Records

Chrysendeton medicinalis (Grote, 1881) - Bold Medicine Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Acentropinae

Tribe:
Nymphulini

P3 Number:
80a1326

MONA Number:
4744.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Munroe (1972)

Adult Markings: This is a relatively small crambid. The thorax is coppery-colored with a prominent white scale tuft along each side. The forewing has a complex pattern that consists of a dark, ocherous ground color that is overlain with lighter, orangish-brown and white patches and lines. The white marks include 1) a sub-basal, broad band that extends from the inner margin obliquely outward before narrowing and terminating just before reaching the costa, 2) a median patch on the dorsal half that is followed by a short white line on the inner margin, 3) a white and often curved line at about three-fourths that slants rearward from the costa towards the tornus before terminating near the middle of the wing, and 4) a subterminal narrow band that parallels the termen and is followed by a parallel yellowish band. In addition to the white marks, light orangish-brown patches are present in the sub-basal region, in the subcostal region at around one-half, and between the median white patch and white oblique line at around three-fourths.

The basal half of the hindwing has similar marks as the forewing, with a broad, white basal band that is continuous with the one on the forewing. The posterior half differs in having a large white patch that is heavily sprinkled with brown scales, and a terminal line of five black spots with tiny bluish eyes. The spots are sometimes fused into a band and have small orange patches on their posterior edges. The fringe on both wings is white with a dark brown basal line. Chrysendeton imitabilis is generally similar to C. medicinalis, and is most easily distinguished by the absence of the white line at about three-fourths that slants towards the tornus, and the triangular-shaped basal patch that is represented as a broad band in C. medicinalis.

Wingspan: 12 mm (Forbes, 1923).

Genitalia and other structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The larval life history of this species is undocumented.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Chrysendeton medicinalis is found in southern Ontario and the eastern US from New York and Pennsylvania southward to southern Florida, and westward to Louisiana, southeastern Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, eastern Missouri and Illinois. A few records are also known from Cuba and other Caribbean islands. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.

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 fly year-round in Florida and from April through October elsewhere, with a seasonal peak typically in June through August. As of 2023, our records extend from late-May through early September.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records are mostly from mesic to hydric habitats, and often in the vicinity of bodies of water.

Larval Host Plants: The food resources are undocumented but are suspected to be aquatic plants. - 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: Chrysendeton medicinalis occurs throughout the state and can be locally common, but more information is needed on its habitat requirements and food resources before we can fully assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Chrysendeton medicinalis - Bold Medicine Moth

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

	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-08-28 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-06-16 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2024-08-24 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-20 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-07 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-06 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-05 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-01 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Patrick Coin, Mark Basinger on 2024-06-16 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Larry Chen on 2024-06-09 Tyrrell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Teper, David George on 2023-09-25 Caswell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Swain Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29 Swain Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-24 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-19 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-12 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-08 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-07-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-30 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-26 Greene Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-18 Chowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-18 Chowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-03 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-02 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-06-15 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-08 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-07-08 Swain Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-03 Madison Co. Comment: