Moths of North Carolina

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Udea rubigalis (Guenée, 1854) - Celery Leaftier Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Spilomelini

P3 Number:
80a0877

MONA Number:
5079.00

Other Common Name:
Greenhouse Leaftier

Identification

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

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

Technical Description, Adults: Munroe (1966)

Adult Markings: The following description is based on that of Forbes (1923). The forewing ground is usually a dull light brown, but is sometimes reddish or dusted with black. The orbicular spot is a slightly darker circle with a lighter center, while the reniform is an hourglass-shaped spot. The antemedial line is broadly dentate. The postmedial line runs parallel to the outer margin on the inner third, then loops inward and continues as an excurved line on the costal half. The termen has a row of fine dark dots, and there is a double gray line in the fringe. The hindwing is much paler and phases into fuscous toward the outer margin. There is a fuscous bar on the upper half of the discocellular, a fine dark gray postmedial line, and a line of dots on the termen.

Wingspan: 18 mm (Forbes, 1923).

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: This species has historically been a significant pest in celery fields in southern Florida and elsewhere. McAvoy (2012) reported that the eggs are deposited singly or in small groups of up to 12 on the underside of celery leaves. The larvae feed on the lower surfaces of leaves, and often roll the leaves or web them together with a thin layer of silk. There are five larval instars and typically multiple generations per year, with each lasting 6-8 weeks depending on the ambient temperatures. The larvae have a tendency to retreat into their webbed shelter or to wriggle violently and spin down from the plant on a strand of silk if disturbed. Pupation occurs within the webbed shelters and the adults emerge after about 2 weeks. The mature larva reach 17-19 mm in length. They are slender and pale green with a narrow, darker, green band along the back and with a broader, whitish band along each side.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Udea rubigalis is a wide-ranging species that occurs across much of southern Canada (British Columbia to Prince Edward Island), throughout much of the eastern U.S., and in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming in the West. This species has been found in every state in the eastern U.S. from Maine westward to North Dakota and southward to Texas, the Gulf coast states, and Florida. The range also extends into Central and South America. It 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: Local populations are multivoltine and can be found year-round or nearly so, except for the coldest months of the year at the most northern latitudes.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are common in open habitats such as early successional fields, roadways, power line corridors, residential communities, and in gardens and cultivated fields.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are highly polyphagous and feed on a wide variety of herbaceous plants, including cultivated crops and greenhouse ornamentals (Miller, 1931; Ball et al., 1935; Schaffner, 1959; Allyson, 1984; Covell, 1984; Heppner, 2007; Beadle and Leckie, 2012). Crops that are eaten include beets, celery, cucumbers, spinach, sweet potatoes, garden peas, radishes, alfalfa, artichokes, lettuce, as well as broccoli and its related forms. The larvae can also be a serious pest in greenhouse operations where snapdragons, chrysanthemums, petunias, nasturtiums, and other ornamental flowers are grown (Miller, 1931). Other plants that have been reported as hosts that are found in North Carolina are species of Amaranthus, ragweed, beggarticks, Boehmeria, Chenopodium, Commelina, Convularia, Delphinium, Erectites, Erigeron, Eupatorium, Geranium, Gnaphalium, Heliotropium, Hydrocotyle, Leucanthemum, Parietaria, Plantago, Portulaca, Rubus, Rumex, Solanum, Sonchus, Specularia, Stachys, Trifolium, Verbesina, and Viola. In North Carolina, larvae have been reared from celery and Small's Ragwort (Packera anonyma). - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and are occasionally seen resting in the open during the day.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Mixed Habitats

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S5

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

Comments: This is a very common species that is found statewide.

Photo Gallery for Udea rubigalis - Celery Leaftier Moth

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

	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-07-04 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-06-17 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-03 Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-05-28 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-05-24 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-18 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-05-01 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-28 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-04-17 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-04-05 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-04-04 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-04 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-03-28 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-23 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2025-03-23 Davidson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2025-03-19 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-14 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-03-12 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-03-12 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-03-12 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-03-11 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-07 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-03-06 Durham Co. Comment: