Moths of North Carolina
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184 NC Records

Blepharomastix ranalis (Guenée, 1854) - Hollow-spotted Blepharomastix

Blepharomastix ranalisBlepharomastix ranalis
view caption 		Blepharomastix ranalisBlepharomastix ranalis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Pyraloidea		 Family:
Crambidae		Subfamily:
Pyraustinae		Tribe:
Spilomelini		P3 Number:
80a1008		 MONA Number:
5182.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species has a light clay-colored ground on both the forewing and hindwing that is overlain with darker dull brown markings. The costa is shaded brown except for the apical third or so, and the antemedial line is slightly excurved. The orbicular is a well-marked ring, and the reniform a double bar or horseshoe-shaped mark. The claviform is very reduced and often appears as a dark dash or dot. The postmedial line has a stepped pattern that begins on the subapical region of the costa and runs towards the anal angle. It abruptly turns inward before reaching the anal angle, then angles again to run perpendicular -- and in a more sinuous fashion -- towards the inner margin near the middle of the wing. In males, the middle section is usually missing so that there is simply a subapical and median lateral line, while in females the entire postmedial line is often intact (Forbes, 1923). There is a dashed brown terminal line, and the fringe is a shade lighter than the ground color. The hindwing is generally similar to the forewing, with the marks consisting of a single, stepped postmedial line and a discal spot. A rare melanic form has been found in North Carolina that appears to have identical female genitalia to that of the typical form described above. It resembles the typical form but differs in having dark scaling overlaying portions of the ground color, thicker and darker transverse lines, and orbicular and reniform spots that are encircled with dark scales.
Wingspan: 20 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is poorly documented. Forbes (1923) reported that the larvae web together the leaves of Chenopodium but did not provide details.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Blepharomastix ranalis is found in Ontario and Quebec, and in a broad swath across the U.S. where the range extends from New Hampshire and Vermont southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, eastern Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin. Populations in Arizona and vicinity are now thought to comprise a separate species. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina, but is relatively uncommon in the upper Coastal Plain.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Blepharomastix ranalis
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 March through September in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak from May through August. As of 2023, our records extend from late-April through early September, with a seasonal peak in May and June. Local populations in North Carolina are univoltine.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Specimens have been observed in a wide range of habitats in North Carolina that range from xeric communities in the Sandhills to a bog and rich hardwood slopes in the Blue Ridge. Many are from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The only reported host is an unspecificied species of Chenopodium (Forbes, 1923). - View
Observation Methods: The adults readily come to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4-S5]
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 in most areas of the state and appears to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Blepharomastix ranalis - Hollow-spotted Blepharomastix

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

Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-05-24
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-05-24
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-23
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-05-18
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-18
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-17
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-15
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-02
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-24
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-10
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-06-24
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-19
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-19
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-19
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-18
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-17
Lincoln Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-16
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2024-06-15
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-12
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-10
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Tracy Feldman, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Patrick Coin, Becky Watkins on 2024-06-08
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-02
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-01
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-05-30
Orange Co.
Comment: