Moths of North Carolina

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Anageshna primordialis (Dyar, 1907) - Yellow-spotted Webworm Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Spilomelini

P3 Number:
80a1048

MONA Number:
5176.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Dyar (1906)

Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on the original description by Dyar (1906). In this species the ground of the forewing is pale yellow and mostly masked by a heavy dusting of dark brown. The transverse lines are dark brown to blackish and are margined with pale yellow on one side only. The antemedial line is slightly irregular and lined with yellow on the basal side. The postmedial line is lined with yellow on the outside and extends inward from the subapical area of the costa and projects to the tornus. The basal half is curved outward and there is a pale yellow patch on both sides where it meets the costa. A short, irregular, median line that is margined with yellow on the outer side extends inward from the inner margin and terminates before reaching a ring-shaped reniform spot with a dull yellow center. Immediately basal to the reniform is a conspicuous dull yellow triangular mark on the costa. A narrow dark-brown terminal line is present that is margined with yellow basally and parallels a thin dark brown line at the base of the fringe. The hindwing is predominantly brown and has a narrow, irregular, dark- brown antemedial line that is lined outwardly with a broad band of yellow. The postmedial has a much narrower yellow band on the outer margin. The terminal line and fringe are the same as the forewing, and the abdomen is brown with a thin yellow line on each segment.

Apogeshna stenialis has similar markings, but the region before the postmedial line is predominantly yellow rather than brown as seen in Anageshna primordialis. In addition, the orbicular and claviform spots are usually evident in A. stenialis and the thorax is yellow with two brown spots near the middle.

Wingspan: 12-15 mm (Dyar, 1906).

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: Anageshna primordialis is widely distributed across the eastern U.S. and in southern Canada from Manitoba to Prince Edward Island. In the U.S., the range extends from Maine to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, eastern Nebraska and eastern North Dakota. This species is found 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: The adults fly year-round in Florida and during all but the coldest months in other southern states such as Georgia and Alabama. Farther north the flight season is mostly from April through October. As of 2023, our records extend from late March through early October. Local populations in North Carolina appear to produce two or three generations per year except for those at higher elevations in the mountains where there appears to be only one generation per year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come predominantly from open, herb-dominaated habitats. These include barrier islands, inner Coastal Plain sandhills, mountain bogs, high elevation grasslands as well as a large number of residential areas.

Larval Host Plants: The larval host plants (if any) are unknown. - View

Observation Methods: The adults come well to blacklights and bait, and also nectar on wildflowers..

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4S5]

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

Comments: This species is widespread and common within the state and appears to be secure.

Photo Gallery for Anageshna primordialis - Yellow-spotted Webworm Moth

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-09-09 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-09-09 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-07 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-31 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-30 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-08-29 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-08-25 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Marilyn Westphal and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-17 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-08-16 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Dale Morgan, Patrick Coin, Julie Tuttle, Becky Watkins, et al. on 2025-07-26 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-20 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-07-04 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-07-03 Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, David Cheng, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-28 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-25 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-23 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-21 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-06-17 Alamance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-23 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-23 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-15 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment: