Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Apogeshna Members:	51 NC Records

Apogeshna stenialis (Guenée, 1854) - Checkered Apogeshna

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Spilomelini

P3 Number:
80a1049

MONA Number:
5177.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Adult Markings: In this species the yellow ground color prevails on the basal two-thirds of the forewing and hindwing, while the terminal third is heavily shaded with brown. The orbicular, claviform, and reniform spots are usually evident on the forewing, and have thick brown margins and yellow centers. The antemedial and postmedial lines are both wide and dark brown, with the postmedial having a thin margin of yellow on the outer side. A short median line extends from the inner margin and terminates before reaching the reniform spot. A dark and somewhat diffuse terminal line is present, along with a thinner dark line along the base of the fringe. The hindwing has coloration and shading that is similar to the forewing. The antemedial line sometimes forks just before reaching the costa, while the postmedial line often joins adjoining shaded regions to form a circle with a yellow center. The terminal line and fringe are similar to those of the forewing. The abdomen has a mixture of brown and yellow banding, and there are prominent dark brown spots on the thorax and at the extreme base of the wings.

Apogeshna stenialis and Anageshna primordialis have similar markings, but the region before the postmedial line is predominantly yellow rather than brown as seen in A. 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.

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: Apogeshna stenialis in found in southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec) and throughout the eastern U.S. from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, Central Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, eastern Nebraska and eastern Minnesota. We have records from all three physiographic provinces, with the majority from the Coastal Plain.

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 January through October in the southern part of the range, and from April through August farther North. As of 2023, our records range from early April through early August, with local populations in the Coastal Plain appearing to have two generations per year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Many of our records are from xeric pinelands in the Sandhills and the outer Coastal Plain, with a few from more mesic residential neighborhoods.

Larval Host Plants: The plant hosts (if any) are undocumented. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

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 appears to be common and secure throughout the Coastal Plain.

Photo Gallery for Apogeshna stenialis - Checkered Apogeshna

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-28 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-06 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-04 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-01 Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-23 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-04-25 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-29 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-07-28 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Larry Chen on 2024-06-10 Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-23 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-10 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-08 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-29 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-29 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen Carson on 2023-05-29 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen Carson on 2023-05-29 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka and Chuck Smith on 2023-05-11 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-04-29 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-04-27 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-04-18 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-08-08 Sampson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-07-30 Sampson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-05-08 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-06 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-04-27 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-04-27 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-07-31 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-07-11 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-05-16 Craven Co. Comment: