Moths of North Carolina
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12 NC Records

Elophila faulalis (Walker, 1859) - No Common Name

Elophila faulalisElophila faulalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: AcentropinaeTribe: NymphuliniP3 Number: 80a1309 MONA Number: 4749.00
Comments: The genus Elophila contains nearly 50 described species that occur on most continents worldwide. Nine species occur in North America – including seven in North Carolina -- and all have aquatic larvae that feed on floating and submerged plants. The larvae live in cases that are constructed from cut-out portions of leaves or leaf fragments, with pupation occurring within the case. The larvae are gill-less and appear to obtain oxygen by storing air in their cases.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1972)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Elophila faulalis has patterns that are similar to those of E. icciusalis. The abdomen has white bands that alternate with yellowish to light brown bands. Specimens typically have a yellow-orange ground color on both the forewing and hindwing that is heavily dusted with dark brown or blackish specks in places. The ground color is overlain with numerous silvery white patches and bars, many of which are lined on one margin with black. Some of the more distinctive marks on the forewing include 1) an outwardly oblique, black line followed by a white triangle near the middle of the costa, 2) a small white spot near the middle of the inner margin that is strongly outlined with black or black dusting, 3) a wavy or W-shaped white mark that is margined outwardly with black and that extends from the costa at about three-fourths inward to the middle of the wing, and 4) a white subterminal line that is often broken and irregular, and usually edged outwardly with black, at least towards the apex. The hindwing is generally similar, but has a mostly white basal area and a broad median white band that is bordered both basally and distally by a black line. The basal black line is straight and oblique, while the distal line is strongly sinuate and is sometimes followed by a second, more diffuse, parallel black band. The fringe on both the forewing and hindwing is checkered to varying degrees with white, fuscous and yellow or buff.

Elophila faulalis differs from E. icciusalis in being darker overall with less crisply defined markings due to heavy dark dusting on the wings. It is also smaller (8-10 mm versus 12-20 mm), and has a much smaller white eyespot near the middle of forewing that is surrounded by a thick black line or region of heavy blackish dusting.
Forewing Length: 8-10 mm (Munroe, 1972)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history of this species is undocumented. The larvae are presumed to be aquatic and to have a life history that is similar to that of E. icciusalis, but this needs to be verified.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Elophila faulalis occurs from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York westward to the Great Lakes region through Quebec, Ontario, and Michigan. The range also extends southward along the Atlantic Seaboard to southern Florida and westward along the Gulf Coast states to southeastern Texas. As of 2023, our records are all from the eastern Coastal Plain and mostly from the southern half.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Elophila faulalis
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 during most months of the year in Florida, and primarily from May to October in the northern portion of the range. As of 2023, our records extend from mid-May through early November.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records are mostly from areas in or near freshwater coastal wetlands.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants and food resources are undocumented for this species. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is uncommon in the state, but much more information is needed on its habitat requirements, host use, and abundance before we can assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Elophila faulalis - No common name

Photos: 3

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-18
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-11-06
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2013-07-14
Camden Co.
Comment: