Moths of North Carolina
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48 NC Records

Pyrausta homonymalis Munroe, 1976 - No Common Name


Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: PyraustiniP3 Number: 801535.00 MONA Number: 5055.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is patterned with regions of yellow and brown or rusty red scales, with all of the marks diffuse and not crisply defined. The antemedial line is obsolete, and the orbicular and reniform spots are widely spaced apart with a diffuse region of yellow and reddish scales between then. The base of the wing is rather uniformly brown or reddish-brown, but can appear more yellowish on worn specimens. Two of the most prominent marks are a yellowish, triangular, preapical patch that is just behind the dentate postmedial line, and a larger reddish-brown blotch that adjoins the triangular patch basally. The reddish postmedial line typically bisects another yellowish patch that occurs on the dorsal half of the wing. The subterminal region has a wide zone of dark reddish-brown scales, and the fringe is concolorous with the subterminal band. The hindwing is brown with a pale, diffuse yellow band at around four-fifths the wing length.
Forewing Length: 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.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Pyrausta homonymalis has a distribution that is centered on the southeastern U.S. It occurs from West Virginia and Maryland southward to central Florida, and westward to Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, central Tennessee, Kentucky, and southern Indiana. As of 2023, we have records from the Blue Ridge, central Piedmont and the western Coastal Plain, with most 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: Populations appear to be univoltine throughout the range, with the adults flying from April through June in different areas of the country. As of 2023, our records extend from early-May through late-June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of our records are from rich hardwood forests or wooded residential communities.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and are occasionally seen resting in the open on vegetation.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3-S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species can be locally common in the mountains where it prefers rich hardwood forests. We currently do not have sufficient information on the host plants and life history to accurately assess the status of this species in North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Pyrausta homonymalis - No common name

Photos: 26

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-06
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-01
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-06-01
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-13
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Emily L Stanley on 2023-05-13
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-07
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-05
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-28
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-28
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-25
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-22
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-20
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-18
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-15
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-12
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Robert Gilson on 2021-05-30
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-26
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-19
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-05-10
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-30
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-21
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-17
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-26
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2014-05-25
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2013-05-30
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2012-05-02
Rockingham Co.
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