Moths of North Carolina
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29 NC Records

Parapoynx maculalis (Clemens, 1860) - Polymorphic Pondweed Moth

Parapoynx maculalis
view caption 		Parapoynx maculalis
view caption 		Parapoynx maculalis
view caption 		Parapoynx maculalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: AcentropinaeTribe: NymphuliniP3 Number: 80a1318 MONA Number: 4759.00
Comments: The genus Parapoynx contains around 60 described species with a nearly worldwide distribution. Seven species occur in North America, with the center of distribution being eastern North America. North Carolina has four species. The larvae are aquatic feeders and can be recognized by the presence of branched gills on all body segments except the prothorax.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923); Munroe (1972)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1910); Welch (1916)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is sexual dimorphic and shows significant variation among members of the same sex (Forbes, 1923; Munroe, 1972). The forewing ground color of the males is white and is marked with dark gray to dark brown diffuse spots and dusting. The darker marks include a small diffuse basal spot near the middle of the wing at about one-fifth the distance from the wing base to the apex, a similar but larger spot just before one-half the distance, a relatively large rectangular spot on the costal at around three-fourths, and a more diffuse blotch that often touches the costal spot, and is more dorsal and posterior to it. The spots can vary from being bold and well-formed to rather faint. A light brown and faint subterminal band is usually evident that is followed by a thin terminal line on the termen, along with fine longitudinal streaking in the terminal area. The hindwing is mostly white, with light fuscous dusting sometimes evident near the apex and inner angle. The female forewing is typically uniformly mouse gray and the hindwing white. On rare occasions males have been found with the forewings uniformly dark like those of the females. In addition, females are more commonly found that have traces of dark pattern on the dark ground color of the forewings.
Forewing Length: 7-11 mm for males and 9-13 mm for females (Munroe, 1972).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae are aquatic and feed on waterlilies and other floating aquatics. Welch (1916) made numerous observations of female egg laying on Nuphar advena, which typically occurs at night when the moths are active. The larvae exploited holes that were cut out of the lily pads to allow the females of a chrysomelid beetle (Donacia sp.) to place their eggs on the undersides of the leaves. After Donacia females oviposited and left, the females of Parapoynx maculalis used the holes to access the undersides of leaves to lay their eggs. Each female deposited up to six concentric rows of eggs depending on the amount of space that is not occupied by Donacia eggs. When experimentally deprived of pads with holes, the females laid eggs along the lower margins of lily pads, which indicates that they are not completely dependent on Donacia for egg laying. Development to hatching required around 11 days.

Forbes (1910) and Welch (1916) noted that each hatchling initially forms a shelter on the leaf of a waterlily, pond-lily, or Water-shield (Brasenia) by cutting out a piece of the leaf margin and attaching it by silk to either the upper or lower surface of the leaf. It forms a rounded hump in the leaf when formed on the underside. The early instars skeletonize leaf tissue within the shelter, but later make portable cases by cutting entirely around the perimeter of the shelter. As they grow, the larvae abandon their cases and construct larger ones by cutting our pieces of leaves and binding them together (Welch, 1916). The cases not only form a protective shelter, but prevent the larvae from sinking to the pond bottom. The shelters are broadly oval, and when full sized are about 2.5-4.0 cm long. The larvae move about with their cases and feed on young leaf tissue that is outside of the case. The final instar pupates within the last case and typically on the underside of a lily pad. The final instar larvae are transparent with the internal organs visible, and have pale yellowish heads and darker mouthparts. The larvae turn yellow just before pupating. There are about 100 well-developed tracheal gills that extend from the body, with each having 2-5 filaments.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Parapoynx maculalis is found in southern Canada from British Columbia eastward to Prince Edward Island. Its range in the US is restricted to sites where water lilies or pond lilies abound, and includes a broad swath from the New England states westward through the Great Lakes region to Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. It also occurs from the New England states southward along the Atlantic Coastal Plain to southern Florida, and westward and northward in the southeastern Coastal Plain to eastern Texas, Arkansas, western Tennessee, western Kentucky and southern Illinois. As of 2023, all of our records are from the 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 fly year-round in Florida where populations are presumably multivoltine. Thr flight season becomes progressively shorter as one moves north, with individuals in the northern part of the range typically fly from May through September. As of 2023, our records extend from early June through early October. Our limited data suggest that there are at least two generations per year in North Carolina.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are mostly restricted to aquatic sites with water lilies and pond lilies.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on members of the Nymphaeaceae (Forbes, 1910; Welch, 1916; McGaha, 1952, 1954; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010). The reported host include Water-shield (Brasenia schreberi), lotuses (Nelumbo), Broadleaf Pond-lily (Nuphar advena), Variegated Yellow Pond-Lily (N. variegata) and Fragrant Water-lily (Nymphaea odorata). The latter three species are the primary hosts (McGaha, 1952, 1954; Welch, 1916). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and can be flushed from the margins of wetlands during the day. The larvae are often common on the undersides of water lilies and pond lilies.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Herbaceous Ponds
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 rather uncommon in North Carolina and localized due to its aquatic host species.

 Photo Gallery for Parapoynx maculalis - Polymorphic Pondweed Moth

Photos: 9

Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2023-06-30
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Terrell Tucker on 2023-06-15
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-13
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-10
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-06-08
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-06-07
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-06-07
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ed Corey on 2020-07-21
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-06-18
Onslow Co.
Comment: