Moths of North Carolina
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7 NC Records

Pyrausta inveterascalis Barnes & McDunnough, 1918 - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: PyraustiniP3 Number: 801515.00 MONA Number: 5036.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on that of Forbes (1923) and Munroe (1976). The head, thorax and abdomen are brown. The forewing ground color is dull crimson and is powdered to varying degrees with blackish scales. The ground is overlain with yellowish to whitish markings that include the antemedial line, which is well developed on the dorsal half, then terminates well before reaching the costa. The postmedial line consists of a subapical triangular patch, a dentate line that runs nearly perpendicular to the dorsal margin, and a middle section that is a line of 3-4 dots. A dull yellow terminal line is present that is concolorous with the fringe. The hindwing is brown with a weak, pale, postmedial line that terminates well before the costa. The fringe is pale yellow-fuscous. This species is similar to Pyrausta signatalis, but has a browner head and thorax, a prominent subapical patch, and a wider line on the portion of the postmedial line that extends from the dorsal margin.
Forewing Length: 6-8 mm (Munroe, 1976).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae are known to feed within the heads of mints (Munroe, 1976), but details of the life history are unreported.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Pyrausta inveterascalis is found in southern Ontario and the eastern U.S. from Pennsylvania southward to central Alabama, and westward to Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. There is one disjunct record from Oklahoma. As of 2023, all of our records are from lower-elevation sites in 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 May through July in different areas of the range. Local populations in North Carolina are univoltine, with all of our records as of 2023 from June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our record are mostly from mesic hardwood forests in the mountains, but it also occurs in glades, meadows, prairies and other open habitats that support mints.
Larval Host Plants: Munroe (1976) reported that the larvae feed on the seeds in Monarda flower heads. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. More information is needed on host use and the general life history of this species.
Wikipedia
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 relatively rare and restricted to the Blue Ridge where we have only three site records as of 2023.

 Photo Gallery for Pyrausta inveterascalis - No common name

Photos: 7

Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-10
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-09
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-20
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-12
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-12
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Merrill Lynch on 2015-06-30
Watauga Co.
Comment: