Moths of North Carolina
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Glaphyria Members:
4 NC Records

Glaphyria basiflavalis Barnes & McDunnough, 1913 - Basal-dash Glaphyria Moth

Glaphyria basiflavalisGlaphyria basiflavalisGlaphyria basiflavalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: GlaphyriinaeP3 Number: 80a1176 MONA Number: 4871.00
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: Barnes and McDunnough 1913; Munroe, 1972                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Glaphyria basiflavalis has rather complex patterning, with the forewing variegated with whitish gray or whitish buff and shades of gray, ferrugineous and fuscous. Nonetheless, this species can be readily identified by the broad, pale-yellow dash that projects from the base of the wing to the antemedial line (Barnes and McDunnough 1913; Munroe, 1972). The palps are white and ringed with yellow-brown, while the thorax is white and sprinkled with yellow. The forewing ground is white, but is heavily shaded with shades of brown. A broad, pale-yellow dash is present from the base of the wing to the antemedial line through the fold, with the area between the antemedial line and base of the dash heavily shaded with smoky brown coloration. The postmedial line is bent outwards around the cell and is followed on the costa by light brown shading which tends to deepen and form a quadrate spot opposite the cell. There are oblique whitish subapical streaks on the costa, and there are two white triangular patches on the terminal border, one below the apex, the other above the fold. The fringe is brownish and slightly cut by white. The hindwing is gray and the basal half of the fringe is brown with the outer portion whitish and slightly sprinkled with brown scales.
Wingspan: 11-14 mm (Barnes and McDunnough, 1913)
Forewing Length: 5 mm (Munroe, 1972)
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1972) remarked that the male genitalia are not unlike those of G. sesquistrialis but the penis is armed with one long and one short cornutus.
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 basiflavalis has southern affinities and is found in the U.S. from southeastern Texas eastward through Louisiana, southern Mississippi, central and southern Alabama, central and southern Georgia and all of Florida. As of 2023, we have a single site record from Onslow County with multiple records from the site.
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. Elsewhere they tend to have a bimodal pattern with a peak in April and May, and another in July through October. As of 2023, we have records for May, June and August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats are largely undocumented. Our one site record is from a residential neighborhood along the coast.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants, if any, are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S1-S3]
State Protection:
Comments: We have a single site record as of 2023 that appears to be a disjunct and represents the most northern known population within the range.

 Photo Gallery for Glaphyria basiflavalis - Basal-dash Glaphyria Moth

Photos: 4

Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-27
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-06-19
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-23
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-08-31
Onslow Co.
Comment: