Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Anania Members:	9 NC Records

Anania plectilis (Grote & Robinson, 1867) - No Common Name

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

P3 Number:
80a0718

MONA Number:
4953.10

Comments: Anania coronata has traditionally been treated as a Holarctic species with two geographically separated subspecies that occur in North America and the Palaearctic Region. Yang et al. (2012) examined variation in MtDNA and genitalia and concluded that this species actually contained four well-differentiated cryptic species. As currently recognized, Anania coronata is restricted to Europe, whereas three additional species occur in North America: A. tertialis, A. plectilis and A. tennesseensis. All three species are very similar in external patterning and coloration and are best identified using either genitalia or mtDNA barcoding. Size differences may be of some use, with A. tennesseensis being substantially smaller on average than the other two. However, the extent to which these species overlap in size needs additional study.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Yang et al. (2012)

Adult Markings: The three members of the Anania coronata complex (A. plectilis; A. tertialis; A. tennesseensis) cannot be distinguished based on external morphology and patterning and require either genitalia or molecular markers (barcoding) for identification. They are all easily distinguished from other species by the pattern of contrasting pale areas on an infuscated ground. The following is a general description that applies to all based on descriptions by Munroe (1976) and Yang et al. (2012).

The ground color of the forewing is pale buff and is powdered or suffused with fuscous in most areas. Two strongly contrasting pale patches are present just before the postmedial line and in the subcostal area near the middle of the wing. Pale coloration also adjoins the outward edge of the postmedial line, which is fuscous and dentate in the median part of the line. The antemedial line is usually indistinct due to the heavy fuscous suffusion in the general area. Beyond the postmedial line there is a broad region of fuscous, dentate shading. The terminal line is fuscous and often broken between the veins, while the fringe is concolorous with the wing. The hindwing is generally similar to the forewing in terms of coloration and patterning.

This species appears to be larger than the other members of the complex, but additional measurements are needed for all three species in North Carolina and vicinity to determine the degree of overlap in size.

Forewing Length: 11.55 ± 0.16 mm (N = 11; Yang et al., 2012).

Adult Structural Features: Yang et al. (2012) have descriptions and illustrations of the genitalia and pinpoint ways to distinguish this species from other members of the complex. In particular, they note that the apex of the phallus affords the most distinctive difference, being deeply notched with smooth edges (serrated in the other two species) and the terminal points are large and sharply spiniform (sharp but proportionally much shorter in A. tennesseensis and A. tertialis). The ductus bursae of the female is also very distinctive, without a ribbon-like sclerotized band (present in A. tertialis) and the corpus bursae has a diffuse, very finely spinulose patch (patch sharply delineated and strongly developed in A. tertialis).

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.

Immatures and Development: The larval life hisotry is undocumented.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Anania plectilis is restricted to eastern North America, with specimens positively identified from Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, and from Minnesota, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida in the U.S. As of 2023, we have records from both the lower-elevations and higher elevations in the Blue Ridge, along with one record from the 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: Most records from throughout the range are from mid-May through mid-July. As of 2023, our records from the mountains are from mid-May through mid-July, with one Piedmont record from early September.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The habitats are poorly documented. We have records from mesic hardwood forests, meadows, and wooded residential communities.

Larval Host Plants: The host plants are poorly documented, but there is a BugGuide record (George Smiley, 2014) of a larva feeding on Common Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis). - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S4]

State Protection:

Comments: This species appears to be uncommon in North Carolina, but additional information is needed on its habitat requirements and abundance before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Anania plectilis - None

Photos: 4

	Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-24 Avery Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-20 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael Pogue on 2004-07-20 Haywood Co. Comment: CreativeCommons: CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics		Recorded by: Loran Gibson on 2004-07-20 Swain Co. Comment: CreativeCommons: CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics