Moths of North Carolina
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8 NC Records

Hahncappsia mancalis (Lederer, 1863) - Common Hahncappsia

Hahncappsia mancalisHahncappsia mancalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: PyraustiniP3 Number: 80a0734 MONA Number: 4967.00
Species Status: "I generally dissect all Hahncappsia. H. pergilvalis is the most distinctively marked" (Scholtens, 2017).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Capps (1967); Munroe (1976)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Capps (1967)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is similar to H. marculenta in color and maculation, but is somewhat duller and less ochreous, with the markings more sharply defined (Capps, 1967). The subterminal band of the forewing is usually broader towards the apex, and the subterminal line of the hindwing is closer to the outer margin so that the pale ocherous area between the line and the outer margin of the wing is narrower than the subterminal line.
Wingspan: 20-24 mm for males; 22-24 mm for females (Capps, 1967).
Forewing Length: 11-13 mm (Munroe, 1976)
Adult Structural Features: Capps (1967) and Munroe (1976) have descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on mostly weedy species, but many aspects of the larval life history are undocumented. One observer (BugGuide) observed the larvae consuming the leaves and stems of Common Morning-glory. The larvae would sometimes slice nearly through a stem and cause the shoot to wilt, then shelter in the wilted leaves. A captive larva left the leaves and began wandering a day before it settled down and began spinning a tough, dense cocoon. An adult emerged after 10 days.

The fully grown larvae are 28-30 mm long, and the head is amber-colored with weak reticulations. The body varies from sordid white to light olive green and has a narrow, darker, middorsal stripe. There are two rows of irregularly ovoid or round black pinacula in the subdorsal region of each side on abdominal segments 1-8, along with a third row lower down around the spiracles. The pinacula below the level of the spiracles are either not pigmented or the pigmentation is obsolescent centrally (Capps, 1967).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Hahncappsia mancalis ranges from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to Texas and southeastern Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Illinois. The range extends through Mexico to as far south as Costa Rica (Capps, 1967). As of 2023, all of our records are from the western Coastal Plain and the 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: In the U.S., the adults fly from January through October in different areas on the range, with a seasonal peak in activity from June through September. As of 2023, our records extend from early-May through early-August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species appears to prefer open and often disturbed habitats that support the host plants. We have records from a xeric site in the Sandhills as well as residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae appear to be moderately polyphagous (Capps, 1967; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010; BugGuide; MPG). The reported hosts include Redroot Amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus), lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium sp.), a mint (genus not specified), Common Morning-glory (Ipomoea purpurea), Cultivated Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), a ground-cherry (Physalis sp.) and a dock (Rumex sp.). - 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: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species appears to be uncommon with only four site records for the state. Additional information is needed on its distribution and abundance before we can confidently assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Hahncappsia mancalis - Common Hahncappsia

Photos: 3

Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-06-22
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Bo Sullivan on 2021-05-09
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-09
Moore Co.
Comment: