Moths of North Carolina
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12 NC Records

Nascia acutellus (Walker, 1866) - Streaked Orange Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: PyraustiniP3 Number: 801409.00 MONA Number: 4937.00 MONA Synonym: Nascia acutella
Comments: BOLD has three BINS, with specimens from the southern Appalachians and coastal North Carolina being genetically distinct from those in the remainder of the range.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species has a triangular forewing that varies from light yellow to orange or brown. The most distinctive feature is a series of broad, longitudinal, brown to reddish-brown streaks along the veins. A rather wide brownish terminal line is usually evident, and the fringe is paler than the ground color. The hindwing is much lighter than the forewing and varies from very light brown to light brownish-yellow or pale white. A brownish terminal line is present and streaking along the veins is either absent or greatly reduced relative to that of the forewings.
Wingspan: 25 mm (Forbes, 1923).
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1976) has 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: Nascia acutellus is restricted to eastern North America where it occurs in southern Canada (Winnipeg; Ontario; Quebec; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia) and in much of the eastern U.S. The range in the U.S. extends from Maine southward to Florida, and westward to central Texas, eastern Oklahoma, eastern Nebraska and Minnesota. Populations are common in the northern half of the range and are more scattered farther south. As of 2023, we have only five site records that range from the Blue Ridge to 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 have been observed from February through October in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak from May through August. As of 2023, our records extend from early May through early July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is common in grassy marshes in the Northeast (Munroe, 1976). Our limited records are mostly associated with wetlands, including a mountain bog in Ashe Co. and wetlands in the Piedmont where grasses and sedges are well represented.
Larval Host Plants: The larval hosts are unknown but are probably sedges (Munroe, 1976). A closely related species in Europe (N. cilialis) specializes on sedges, including species of Carex and Cladium. - View
Observation Methods: This species appears to come well to blacklights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Sedge, Grass, and Rush Mires
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: We have only five site records for the state as of 2023. Additional information is needed on habitat requirements, feeding ecology, distribution and abundance before we can accurately assess the conservation status of this species.

 Photo Gallery for Nascia acutellus - Streaked Orange Moth

Photos: 4

Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-08
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2022-08-02
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2015-08-11
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2006-06-24
Jones Co.
Comment: