Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Pyrausta Members:	117 NC Records

Pyrausta acrionalis (Walker, 1859) - Mint-loving Pyrausta

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Pyraustini

P3 Number:
80a0840

MONA Number:
5071.00

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: The following description is based in part on those of Forbes (1923) and Munroe (1976). The forewing ground color varies from rose to reddish brown or dark brown. The ground is overlain with yellowish patches and spots that are concentrated in the middle third of the wing. The orbicular and reniform spots are a shade darker than the ground, and the antemedial and postmedial lines are the same color as the ground. The antemedial is often partially obliterated by the rose or brown shading. The postmedial line dissects a large yellow patch along the inner margin at around two-thirds the wing length, and is excurved on the costal half. The terminal fifth of the wing beyond the postmedial line lacks any yellow marks except for a narrow yellow terminal line and a conspicuous yellow fringe. The costa is uniformly colored like the ground except for the subapical area where is often phases into yellow. The hindwing is grayish fuscous and often lighter near the base, with a short, straight, narrow, yellowish-buff postmedial line and a buff fringe.

Forewing Length: 6-7 mm (Munroe, 1976).

Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1976) has descriptions of the male and female genitalia.

Structural photos

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 acrionalis is a common species that occurs across most of the eastern U.S. and portions of southeastern Canada from Ontario eastward to Nova Scotia. In the U.S. the range extends from Maine to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. It is generally uncommon along the Atlantic Coastal Plain from Virginia to Georgia. In North Carolina this species is common in the Piedmont and lower elevations in the Blue Ridge, and uncommon in the Coastal Plain.

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 are active year-round in southern states such as Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, and mostly from April through October farther north. As of 2023, our records range from mid-February to early November, with local populations appearing to produce two or more overlapping generations each year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Larval Host Plants: The hosts are poorly documented. Covell (1984) listed a mint (Mentha sp.) that was presumably based on a museum specimen, but we are unaware of any verification of this. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and are occasionally seen nectaring on wildflowers.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4S5]

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

Comments: This species is common in the Blue Ridge and Piedmont and appears to be secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Pyrausta acrionalis - Mint-loving Pyrausta

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-31 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-07-23 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-22 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-22 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-09 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-31 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-26 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-01 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-14 Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-08-28 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-22 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-10 Person Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2023-07-08 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-04-13 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2023-04-11 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-04-03 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2023-02-16 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-11-05 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-10-07 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2022-09-18 Davidson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-16 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-09-01 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-24 Clay Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2022-08-15 Avery Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-08-14 Avery Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-08-07 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-14 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-07-06 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-03 Orange Co. Comment: