Moths of North Carolina
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62 NC Records

Glaphyria glaphyralis (Guenée, 1854) - Common Glaphyria Moth

Glaphyria glaphyralisGlaphyria glaphyralisGlaphyria glaphyralisGlaphyria glaphyralis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: GlaphyriinaeTribe: [Glaphyriini]P3 Number: 80a1174 MONA Number: 4869.00
Comments: The genus Glaphyria contains nine described species that are found in the New World from Canada southward to Brazil. The U.S. has seven species, with six occurring in North Carolina. They are all small moths that characteristically posture with the forelegs projecting forward. The larval life histories of all of our species are undocumented.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923); Munroe (1972)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: In this species the ground color of the forewing varies from lemon-yellow to ocherous-yellow. The ground is overlain with white lines and spots that lack any distinct brown edging, although light brown shading is sometimes present (Forbes, 1923). The basal third of the wing has a series of poorly organized white lines and spots, while the antemedian line is distinct and waved. The postmedian line is sinuous on the dorsal half, then curved outward before angling obliquely to the costa. The subterminal area is marked with white spots and the fringe varies from creamy to dull white. Glyphyria sequestralis is similar in pattern but the white lines are distinctly edged with brown and the fringe is evenly ocherous-yellow and nearly concolorous with the ground color. There is also a distinct dark terminal line that is preceded by white spots (Forbes, 1923). Aethiophysa lentiflualis and Xanthophysa psychialis are also similar but have white markings edged with brown and differ in fringe color.
Wingspan: 15-18 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Forewing Length: 7-8 mm (Munroe, 1972)
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1972) has detailed descriptions of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Glaphyria glaphyralis is widely distributed in the eastern U.S. with the range extending from New Hampshire and Massachusetts westward through the Great Lakes region to southern Minnesota and eastern Nebraska, then southward to central and southern Texas, the Gulf Coast states, and Florida. Populations are missing or uncommon in the Coastal Plain from North Carolina southward to Georgia. As of 2023, we have records from all three physiographic regions, with most from the Piedmont and lower elevations in 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)

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