Moths of North Carolina
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63 NC Records

Epipagis fenestralis (Hübner, 1796) - Orange Epipagis Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: SpilomeliniP3 Number: 801354.00 MONA Number: 5147.00 MONA Synonym: Epipagis huronalis
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1955)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species has a checkerboard pattern on the forewing that consists of dull orange and white patches. The antemedial line is broadly wavy, while the conspicuous postmedial line is orangish-brown and thick, with an outwardly bowed section on the inner third of the wing. The fringe is boldly checkered with brown and white, and the abdomen has prominent dull orange and white banding along its length. The hindwing is predominately white except for a dull orange marginal shade that is widest at the apex. The antemedial line is broken and does not extend all the way across the wing, while the postmedial line is bolder and often complete. The fringe is white with a row of fine dark dots at the base. Features that help to distinguish this species are the prominent postmedial line and checkered fringe on the forewing, the prominent banding on the abdomen, the dull orange marginal shade on the hindwing that is widest at the apex, and the presence of two transverse lines on the hindwing. Samea castellalis is similar, but lacks a prominent postmedial line and has spotting on the apical third of the costa.
Wingspan: 20-25 mm (Covell, 1984).
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: Epipagis fenestralis occurs in Central and North America. The range in North America is centered on the southeastern U.S. and extends from New Jersey and Maryland southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, Missouri and southern Illinois. There are also isolated records from northern Indiana, northern Illinois and eastern Nebraska. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Coastal Plain and Piedmont.
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 have been observed from March through December in different areas of the range, with the peak flights between July through October. As of 2023, our records extend from mid-June through late October.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is frequently observed in open, herbaceous habitats, including old fields, pastures, roadside rights-of-way, open woodlands and pine savannas.
Larval Host Plants: Adults are diurnal flower visitors, but the larval host plants are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to building and UV lights, and are often seen on flowers during the day.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Successional Fields and Forblands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Epipagis fenestralis appears to be reasonably secure in North Carolina, but details about its feeding ecology and preferred habitats are needed to fully assess its status in North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Epipagis fenestralis - Orange Epipagis Moth

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

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-13
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-24
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-19
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-15
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-09-08
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-09-07
Polk Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-08-19
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-10-30
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-10-01
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-09-26
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-09-21
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-18
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-06-22
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-13
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-09-10
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2021-09-06
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2021-08-26
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2021-08-19
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-08-15
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2021-07-21
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-07-13
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-07-05
Granville Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-04
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-10-13
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-10-02
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-10-02
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-10-01
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-09-20
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-09-18
Granville Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-09-13
Durham Co.
Comment: