Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Condylorrhiza Members:	16 NC Records

Condylorrhiza vestigialis (Guenée, 1854) - Alamo Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Spilomelini

P3 Number:
80a0951

MONA Number:
5215.00

Species Status: This species is a major pest in the tropics where is often defoliates poplars in plantations.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Adult Markings: The adults typically have a medium yellow ground color on both the forewing and hindwing, but can also rarely be light brown or luteous, diaphanous green (Brou, 2017). The marks on the forewing are all brown and often lightly patterned. They include an antemedial line that is slightly curved outward, an orbicular dot, and a reniform that resembles a quotation mark. There is a stepped postmedial line that extends perpendicular from the inner margin, then angles at around 90 degrees to run parallel to the inner margin before angling again to run parallel to the termen. From there is projects obliquely inward to the costa. The hindwing has a very similar postmedial line, along with a somewhat diffuse, dark, dashed or solid line that parallels the dashed terminal line. The fringe on both wings is whitish, and the head, thorax and abdomen are concolorous with the wing ground color.

Wingspan: 28-32 mm (Leckie and Beadle, 2018).

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on the foliage of the hosts, which include willows and poplars. Two individuals have reared larvae from willows in the U.S. (BugGuide; iNaturalist). A larva that was reared by Arturo Santos (BugGuide) was green with a dorsolateral white stripe on either side. The head was pale and encircled with a prominent, irregular, black band. Brou (2017) reported that there were seven broods in Louisiana, with the first peaking in June and July, and perhaps representing migrants from farther south. A new brood appeared about every 30 days. This species can be a serious defoliator in Popular deltoides plantations in the tropics (e.g., Chirinzane et al., 2020).

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Condylorrhiza vestigialis occurs throughout much of the eastern U.S. from New Jersey westward to Nebraska, and southward to southern Texas, the Gulf Coast states and southern Florida. This is a largely tropical and subtropic species that occurs from Central America and the Caribbean southward to central South America. As of 2023, we have scattered records from all three physiographic provinces, with most from the Piedmont.

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 in all but the coldest months of the year in Florida, and mostly from September and October in the northern portion of the range. As of 2023, our records range from early-August through late-September.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records are mostly from fragmented or disturbed landscapes such as farmland and residential neighborhoods.

Larval Host Plants: This species is polyphagous. The host plants recorded in Brazil and Puerto Rico include members of the Urticaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Salicaceae (Forbes, 1923; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010). Both willows (Salix spp.) and poplars (Populus spp.) are known hosts. The adult have been reared from willows in Florida and Texas (BugGuide; iNaturalist). This species can be a serious defoliator of Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) in plantations in Brazil and other areas in the tropics (Chirinzane et al., 2020). It is uncertain to what extend cottonwoods are used in the Southeast. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3-S4]

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

Comments: Condylorrhiza vestigialis is wide-ranging in the Neotropics and may be only a migrant in our area. More information is needed on its host use, preferred habitats, dispersal abilities, distribution and abundance before we can accurately assess its conservation status within the state.

Photo Gallery for Condylorrhiza vestigialis - Alamo Moth

Photos: 18

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-21 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P Morales on 2025-08-28 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P Morales on 2025-08-28 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-22 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-09 Bladen Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-23 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-09-07 Polk Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ed Corey on 2022-09-17 Martin Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-09-12 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-09-05 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-09-05 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-10-22 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-27 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-27 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-27 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-08-10 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2017-09-17 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2017-09-09 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: