Moths of North Carolina
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8 NC Records

Pyrausta demantrialis (Druce, 1895) - No Common Name

Pyrausta demantrialisPyrausta demantrialisPyrausta demantrialisPyrausta demantrialis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: PyraustiniP3 Number: 80a0786 MONA Number: 5018.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: In this species, the head, thorax and forewing are shining lead gray, with the head and thorax particularly shiny. The forewing is unmarked and is overlaid with black-tipped, whitish scales that are most concentrated on the basal two-thirds of the wing (Forbes, 1923; Munroe, 1976). The hindwing is also lead gray, but somewhat paler near the base. The fringe of both wings is concolorous with the wings.
Forewing Length: 8-10 mm (Munroe, 1976)
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, although Terry Harrison (BugGuide) has reared the adults from a Collinsonia sp.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Pyrausta demantrialis is found in Mexico, the eastern and south-central U.S., and southern Ontario, Canada The range extends from Pennsylvania and Maryland southwestward through the Appalachian region to northern Florida, and westward to Texas, southern Arizona, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Indiana, and southern Michigan. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Blue Ridge.
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 February through October in Texas, and mostly from June through September farther north. As of 2023, our records are from late-July through mid-September, with populations appearing to be univoltine.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our specimens are from rich mesic woods in the Blue Ridge.
Larval Host Plants: The only known host is a Collinsonia sp. (BugGuide), which suggests that Collinsonia canadensis could be a host in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Montane Rich Wet Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S3]
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 in North Carolina and restricted to the Blue Ridge, with only five site records as of 2023. It appears to prefer rich woods with circumneutral soils.

 Photo Gallery for Pyrausta demantrialis - No common name

Photos: 6

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-03
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-20
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2020-08-04
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-03
Madison Co.
Comment: