Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFCrambidae Members: Diasemiodes Members: 8 NC Records

Diasemiodes nigralis (Fernald, 1892) - Black Shawl Moth

Diasemiodes nigralisDiasemiodes nigralisDiasemiodes nigralis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Pyraloidea		 Family:
Crambidae		Subfamily:
Pyraustinae		Tribe:
Spilomelini		P3 Number:
80a1079		 MONA Number:
5173.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: In this species, both the forewing and hindwing have a black ground color that is overlain with a series of white marks. The forewing lacks an antemedial line and has an incomplete white postmedial line that extends from the costa to the middle of the wing. Most specimens have a white subcostal discal dot near the middle of the wing, and a small white spot near the inner margin that is between the discal spot and postmedial line. The fringe is mostly black, but sometimes has a patch of white near the apex and tornus. The hindwing is uniformly black with a white line that extends diagonally from the subtornal region before ending near the middle of the wing. A second and shorter white line extends from just beyond the middle of the costa at an angle that is nearly perpendicular to the first. The fringe is black.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: The range is centered on the southeastern U.S. and extends from New Jersey and Maryland southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, eastern Oklahoma, Missouri and Indiana. As of 2023, all of our records are from a narrow band in the central Piedmont.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Diasemiodes nigralisAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: The adults have been observed year-round or nearly so in Florida and Louisiana, and mostly from May through September farther north. As of 2023, our records are from mid-June through late-August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our few records are from residential neighborhoods and a Piedmont nature preserve.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts plants (if any) are undocumented. - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is uncommon throughout its range, including in North Carolina where it appears to be restricted to a narrow band in the central Piedmont. More information is needed on its distribution, abundance, natural habitats and food resources before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Diasemiodes nigralis - Black Shawl Moth

Photos: 9
Diasemiodes nigralis
Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2025-09-26
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Diasemiodes nigralis
Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-04
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Diasemiodes nigralis
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin on 2024-06-22
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Diasemiodes nigralis
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-14
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Diasemiodes nigralis
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Diasemiodes nigralis
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Diasemiodes nigralis
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-07-09
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Diasemiodes nigralis
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2016-06-16
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Diasemiodes nigralis
Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2014-08-28
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: