Moths of North Carolina
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10 NC Records

Glaphyria cappsi Munroe, 1972 - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: GlaphyriinaeTribe: [Glaphyriini]P3 Number: 801028.00 MONA Number: 4874.00
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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1972)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on that of Munroe (1972). The frons is orange with white lateral lines, while the labial palps are orange with the segments tipped with white. The vertex and thorax are uniformly orange. The base, costa and termen of the forewing are bright orange to orangish-yellow, while the rest of the wing is contrastingly purplish fuscous. The antemedial line is fine, white and distinct, and begins on the costa at around one-half the wing length. It runs obliquely distally to about one-fifth the wing depth before angling back, then runs obliquely distally again even farther before angling back a second time. From there it runs a short distance to the inner margin.

The postmedial line resembles the antemedial in color, thickness and sharpness. It begins on the costa at around two-thirds the wing length and forms a broad curve distally around the cell. The curved portion terminates at around two-thirds the wing depth, where it sharply angles inward, then projects strongly obliquely to reach the inner margin at an angle of 25 degrees or less. There are four inconspicuous white dots below the termen, and the fringe is orange and of the same shade as the terminal area.

The hindwing has the base and the anterior half whitish buff. The posterior part is weakly suffused with fuscous except basally and terminally. The fuscous area is interrupted by a broad longitudinal buff stripe in the anal area, and there is a white postmedial line on the fuscous area. The posterior part of the terminal area is orange, and there is a black bar along the termen at the anal fold. The fringe is orange.

Glaphyria cappsi is very similar to G. fulminalis, but the base, costa and termen of the forewing of the latter are lighter and less strongly contrasting with the purplish fuscous shading. The most reliable way to distinguish these is by the angle at which the oblique portion of the postmedial line intersects the inner margin: about 25 degrees or less for G. cappsi versus 45 degrees or more for G. fulminalis (see BugGuide for an illustration). In some instances the angle may be difficult to accurately determine from images of live specimens and is best determined in photographs of spread specimens.
Forewing Length: 5-7 mm (Munroe, 1972)
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1972) has illustrations and descriptions of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Glaphyria cappsi is found in the southeastern U.S. and Cuba. The range extends from central Texas and eastern Oklahoma eastward to North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. As of 2023, we have records from both the Blue Ridge and the eastern 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 have been observed year-round in Florida and from April through September elsewhere. As of 2023, our records extend from mid-April through early August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Many of our records are from partially wooded residential neighborhoods in both the mountains and along the coast.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants, if any, are unreported. - View
Observation Methods: The adults visit lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR[S3-S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: We have only a few site records as of 2023. More information is needed on the preferred habitats, feeding ecology, distribution and abundance before we can assess the conservation status of this species.

 Photo Gallery for Glaphyria cappsi - No common name

Photos: 8

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-06
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-06
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-24
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2022-04-14
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-07-03
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-06-18
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-06-29
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-06-09
Onslow Co.
Comment: