Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Oenobotys Members:	40 NC Records

Oenobotys vinotinctalis (Hampson, 1895) - Wine-tinted Oenobotys

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Pyraustini

P3 Number:
80a0703

MONA Number:
4940.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)

Adult Markings: This is a small moth with prominent palps that project forward, along with forelegs that have a prominent, dark, dorsal spot. The forewing is broad and most commonly pinkish-red, brownish-red or purplish brown. The antemedial and postmedial lines are blackish, and there are often two diffuse black spots below the inner margin that contact both lines. A blackish reniform spot is present that is slightly curved and bar-shaped. The postmedial line is curved outward on the costal three-fifths, then runs parallel to the inner margin before sharply angling to connect perpendicularly to the inner margin. The fringe is either slightly paler or the same color as the ground. The hindwing is variable in color, but usually fuscous, with the fringe similar to that of the forewing.

This species resembles Uresiphita reversalis, but the latter lacks a prominent dark-brown spot on each foreleg and has an orangish abdomen and hindwing. It also resembles Herpetogramma phaeopteralis, but the latter lacks the prominent spot on the forelegs.

Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1976) has descriptions of the male and female genitalia and images of the male 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: Oenobotys vinotinctalis is found in the southeastern U.S. from central Texas eastward along the Gulf Coast to all of Florida, then northward along the Atlantic Coast to North Carolina, with one isolated record from Maryland. Munroe (1976) reported that this species ranges southward through the West Indies and Mexico to Central and South America, however BOLD data suggests that populations in central and South America may represent a cryptic species. As of 2023, all of our records are from coastal counties in the southeastern corner of the state.

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 and from March through November in southern Alabama. As of 2025, we have records from late-March through December and January. Local populations in North Carolina appear to be multivoltine, with adults from the final brood appearing to overwinter.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records all come from the Tidewater region. Most are from the mainland and one from a barrier island. The exact habitats that are used within this area are poorly known.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae have been reported to feed on a species of Eupatorium in Florida (Heppner, 2007), but we are unaware of any additional confirmation of this. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S1S3

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species reaches its northern limit in the southeastern corner of the state where it is scarce, but sometimes locally common. We need additional information on its habitat preferences and feeding ecology before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Oenobotys vinotinctalis - Wine-tinted Oenobotys

43 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-27 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-09-24 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-23 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-21 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-21 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2025-04-04 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Randy Newman on 2024-10-28 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-07-14 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Hunter Phillips on 2024-06-07 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-26 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-26 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-04 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-16 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-28 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-28 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-28 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-09-23 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-09-19 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-07-22 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-18 New Hanover Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-17 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-08-13 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2022-06-06 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-07-04 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-31 Onslow Co. Comment: