Moths of North Carolina
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506 NC Records

Udea rubigalis (Guenée, 1854) - Celery Leaftier Moth

Udea rubigalisUdea rubigalisUdea rubigalisUdea rubigalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: SpilomeliniP3 Number: 80a0877 MONA Number: 5079.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical 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).
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 polyphagus 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 include species of Ageratum, Amaranthus, Ambrosia, Bidens, Boehmaria, 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. - 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

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

Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-11-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-11-12
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-04
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-01
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-30
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-10-26
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-24
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-21
Wayne Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-18
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-10-13
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-10-13
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-25
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-12
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-04
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-10
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-04
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-25
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-17
Lincoln Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-16
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-05-20
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-07
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2024-04-21
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-04-16
Carteret Co.
Comment: