Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Loxostegopsis Members:	312 NC Records

Loxostegopsis merrickalis (Barnes & McDunnough, 1918) - Merrick's Crambid

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Spilomelini

P3 Number:
80a1054

MONA Number:
5117.00

Other Common Name:
Merrick's Pyralid Moth

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)

Adult Markings: This is a distinctive species with a clayish-yellow head and palps that strongly contrast with the grayish-brown to dark brown forewings. The forewing ground varies from grayish-brown to dark brown and has slightly darker antemedial and postmedial lines that are often obscured by the dark ground. A small, triangular, clay-colored patch is often present along the costa in the subapical area. The hindwing is uniformly brown and a shade lighter than the forewing ground. The fringe of both wings tends to be weakly two-toned, with the base darker than the outer portion.

Wingspan: 15 mm (Forbes, 1923).

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: Despite being very common, the life history of this species has not been documented.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Loxostegopsis merrickalis is found in Mexico, the eastern and central U.S., and adjoining areas of southern Canada (Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec). In the U.S., the range extends from southern Maine and other New England states southward to southern Florida, and westward to Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, eastern Nebraska and the eastern Dakotas. We have records from all three physiographic regions, although this species appears to be absent from much of the northern Coastal Plain and the northern and southern mountains 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: The adults fly from February through September in the southernmost states, and mostly from April through September farther north. As of 2023, our records are from early-April through late-October. Local populations in North Carolina appear to be bivoltine, with spring and summer generations.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come from residential neighborhoods, mesic and dry forests, seeps, and xeric old fields.

Larval Host Plants: The larval hosts are unknown. - View

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

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4

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

Comments: Loxostegopsis merrickalis is widespread and common throughout the state and appears to be secure.

Photo Gallery for Loxostegopsis merrickalis - Merrick's Crambid

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-21 Brunswick 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: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-24 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-23 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-16 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Brian Bockhahn, Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-08 Harnett Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka and Sally Gewalt on 2025-04-29 Warren Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Miles Buddy on 2025-04-26 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25 Columbus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Bonnie Eamick on 2025-04-25 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-24 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-04-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2025-04-16 Bladen Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-15 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-13 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-21 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-14 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-14 Orange Co. Comment: