Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFCrambidae Members:
Xanthophysa Members:
7 NC Records

Xanthophysa psychicalis (Hulst, 1886) - Psychic Xanthophysa

Xanthophysa psychicalisXanthophysa psychicalisXanthophysa psychicalisXanthophysa psychicalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: GlaphyriinaeTribe: [Glaphyriini]P3 Number: 80a1187 MONA Number: 4879.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1972)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based in part on descriptions by Hulst (1886) and Forbes (1923). The head and thorax have a mixture of white and yellow patterning and the antenna is yellow. The forewing ground is rich yellow, with the basal third mottled to varying degrees with yellow and whitish coloration. A faint basal line is sometimes evident. The most prominent marks are two transverse white lines that include a wavy antemedial line and a postmedial line that is somewhat denticulate and outwardly bowed from the costa to just beyond the middle of the wing. Both lines are finely edged with dark dots and speckling on both margins. The fringe on fresh specimens is weakly two-toned with the basal portion fuscous and the outer half whitish or white with a central dark line. A broken terminal line is also usually evident that consists of a series of blackish dots. The hindwing is whitish with varying levels of light brown or grayish brown dusting, and a faint fuscous median band is usually evident. The fringe is similar in coloration and patterning to that of the forewing.
Wingspan: 14 mm (Hulst, 1886)
Forewing Length: 7-9 mm (Leckie and Beadle, 2018)
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: Xanthophysa psychicalis is widely distributed in the eastern U.S., with records also from Quebec. In the U.S., the range extends from Maine and New Hampshire westward through the Great Lakes region to Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, then southward to eastern Texas, the Gulf Coast states and southern Florida. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Sandhills and eastern Piedmont.
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 from March through October in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in June through August. As of 2023, our very limited records are from May and early August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats are poorly documented. As of 2023, we have records from xeric habitats in the Sandhills and more mesic habitats in the Piedmont.
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[S3-S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: As of 2023 we have only five site records. More information is needed on the feeding ecology, preferred habitats, distribution and abundance of this species before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Xanthophysa psychicalis - Psychic Xanthophysa

Photos: 5

Recorded by: John Petranka and Jim Petranka on 2023-05-18
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-05-18
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2022-05-30
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-08-04
Warren Co.
Comment: