Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Pyrausta Members:	62 NC Records

Pyrausta bicoloralis (Guenée, 1854) - Bicolored Pyrausta

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Pyraustini

P3 Number:
80a0808

MONA Number:
5040.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)

Adult Markings: This is an easily recognizable species in which the forewing is orange except for the outer two-fifths that is brown or purplish-brown. The boundary between the two is marked by a sinuous darker brown postmedial line (Forbes, 1923). Both the sinuous antemedial line and the discal spots are usually evident, and the fringe is boldly marked with alternating dark purplish-brown and white patches. The hindwing is generally similar in coloration and patterning.

Wingspan: 18 mm (Forbes, 1923)

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 larvae are leaf folders that feed on members of the mint family, including plants that are grown as herbs or ornamentals. Details of the life history are poorly documented for native hosts. Local populations typically pass through two or more generations annually, with limited evidence that the larvae in the final generation overwinter, then pupate the following spring. The later instars have a pale, amber-colored head and prothoracic shield that both have a blackish lateral stripe. The back of the head also has a pair of closely spaced, medial dorsal spots. The body has a matching pale dorsal stripe that is bordered by two rows of blackish pinacula. The upper row has dark reddish pigmentation between the pinacula so that the entire row may appear as a dark stripe. Pupation occurs on the host plant in a fibrous cocoon.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Pyrausta bicoloralis is found throughout much of the eastern U.S. and adjoining portions of Canada (Ontario; Quebec; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia). In the U.S., the range extends from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, eastern Oklahoma, eastern Nebraska and Minnesota. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.

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 March through October in different areas of the range. The flight season is extensive in North Carolina, with two or more broods produced annually. As of 2023, our records extend from early April through mid-October.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: This species commonly occurs in residential neighborhoods and gardens, as well as natural settings such as mesic forests and coastal pine forests.

Larval Host Plants: The native host plants are poorly documented, but presumably are members of the mint family (Lamiaceae). BugGuide has a record (Charley Eiseman, 2017) for Northern Bugleweed (Lycopus uniflorus), and Heppner (2007) reported a Salvia species as a host, but it is uncertain whether it was a native species. BugGuide also has rearing records for Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis). The latter is a southern European species that is commonly grown as an herb. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to both building lights and UV-lights, and are occasionally spotted nectaring on low-growing plants. More information is needed on the larval life history and native host plants.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4-S5]

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

Comments: This species occurs throughout the state and is commonly encountered in suburban neighborhoods; it appears to be secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Pyrausta bicoloralis - Bicolored Pyrausta

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-13 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-07 Alamance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-04 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-30 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-07-03 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-06-24 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-14 Scotland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-13 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-02 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-04-01 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-11 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-09-12 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-04 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-30 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-27 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-26 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-06 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-25 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-18 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-14 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Sam Land on 2022-08-13 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-21 Caswell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-20 Caswell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson, Stephen Dunn on 2022-06-04 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-04-06 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2021-08-06 Wake Co. Comment: