Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Ategumia Members:	24 NC Records

Ategumia ebulealis (Guenée, 1854) - Stained Ategumia

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Spilomelinae

P3 Number:
80a1062

MONA Number:
5158.00

Other Common Name:
Cledemia Leafroller

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Adult Markings: The adults usually rest with the forewings spread and the hindwings exposed. The forewings and hindwings are generally similar in having thin, dark, wavy, transverse lines and the same ground color, which varies from dull yellow to orangish yellow. Both wings also have a broad, wavy, brownish to purplish-brown subterminal band, a thin, dark, terminal line, and a checkered fringe. The antemedial and median lines on the forewing are often incomplete and run from the inner margin to the orbicular and reniform spots, respectively, which are both lighter in their centers. The postmedial line is excurved and runs from the subapical region of the costa to the subtornal region. The hindwing typically shows only the antemedial and median lines, with the postmedial usually obscured by the purplish-brown subterminal band. There is a single orbicular spot that often joins the antemedial line. The abdomen varies from yellowish to yellowish-orange and has a prominent pair of black spots on the second segment, as well as two additional pairs that are less prominent near the tip. This species resembles our Diacme species, but can be readily distinguished by the paired spots on the abdomen.

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on the leaves of the host plant. Larvae that were feeding on Rhexia mariana in Florida (Peter Homann; BugGuide) loosely webbed together a few leaves and then fed on the leaves within the nest. After the food resources were depleted, they moved to neighboring branches and repeated the process.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Ategumia ebulealis is found in the southeastern U.S., the Carribean, Central America and South America to as far south as Brazil. In the U.S., the main range extends from North Carolina southward to southern Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, western Tennessee and northeastern Arkansas. Isolated records are also known from Maryland, New Jersey and northern Iowa. As of 2023, our records are all from the eastern Coastal Plain except for one eastern Piedmont record.

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 year-round in Florida and mostly from June through November in other states. As of 2023, our records extend from late-August through late-November.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: In North Carolina, this species has been recorded in wet, open, herbaceous wetlands, including marshes, shorelines, and other open, wet, herb-dominated habitats. These are habitats occupied statewide by R. mariana. We do not, however, have any records from longleaf pine savannas or flatwoods, habitats that support a number of Rhexia species specialized on those habitats.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae appear to specialize on members of the Melastomaceae (Heppner, 2003; BugGuide). The reported hosts include a Clidemia sp., Johnny-Berry (Miconia umbellata) and Maryland Meadow-beauty (Rhexia mariana). In our area, several species of Rhexia are the only members of this family. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found in webbed leaves on the host plants. We need more information on host use in North Carolina.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Herbaceous Wetlands

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S4]

State Protection:

Comments: This species appears to reach its northern limit in North Carolina. Additional information is needed on its preferred habitat, host plants and abundance before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Ategumia ebulealis - Stained Ategumia

Photos: 24

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-27 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-01 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-01 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-04 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-22 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-07 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-30 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-15 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-11-10 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-11-05 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-10-15 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Taylor on 2020-09-19 Beaufort Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-11-06 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-10-26 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-09-30 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-09-20 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-08-25 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Ed Corey on 2016-10-01 Bladen Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2012-09-20 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: