Moths of North Carolina
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293 NC Records

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

Anageshna primordialisAnageshna primordialisAnageshna primordialis
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, BOLDTechnical 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.
Anageshna primordialis
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

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

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:
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-05-08
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-02
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25
Columbus 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: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14
Bladen Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-28
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-11-05
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-22
Wayne 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: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-12
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-07
Alamance Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-06
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-04
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-01
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-26
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-20
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-08-17
Johnston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-16
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-12
Pamlico Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07
Transylvania Co.
Comment: