Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Herpetogramma Members:	72 NC Records

Herpetogramma phaeopteralis (Guenée, 1854) - Dusky Herpetogramma

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Spilomelinae

P3 Number:
80a1022

MONA Number:
5274.00

Comments: Over 20 species of Herpetogramma have been described from North America that are based mostly on external morphology. The most recent treatment consolidates these into only nine species (Solis, 2010) and all nine occur in North Carolina.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Solis (2010)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Tofangazi et al. (2014)

Adult Markings: This is the smallest of our Herpetogramma species, with a wing length of less than 11 mm and a wingspan of around 20 mm. The head, thorax, abdomen, and ground color of the forewing are medium-brown, and the wing marking are subdued relative to our other Herpetogramma species. The blackish orbicular spot is small and rounded, while the blackish reniform has a half-moon shape. The area between the orbicular and reniform is brown and lacks a pale or whitish patch as seen in some Herpetogramma species (Solis, 2010; Handfield and Handfield, 2021). The antemedial line is often obscure and mostly straight, but angles basally just before reaching the costa. The postmedial line extends inward from the costa at around three-fourths the wing length as a broadly wavy line, then angles inward to run parallel to the inner margin before sharply angling away from the reniform spot and running nearly perpendicular to the inner margin. The hindwing is concolorous with the forewing and has similar markings, except that it lacks the antemedial line and reniform spot. Both the forewing and hindwing lack conspicuous dark shading in the subterminal region. The fringe of both wings is slightly lighter than the ground color and has a narrow, dark line at the base that parallels a similar, but often scalloped or dashed, terminal line.

This species might be confused with Uresiphita reversalis, but the latter is larger and has an orangish abdomen and hindwing. It also resembles Oenobotys vinotinctalis, but is smaller and lacks the prominent spot on the forelegs.

Wingspan: 20 mm (Handfield and Handfield, 2021).

Forewing Length: <11 mm (Solis, 2010).

Adult Structural Features: Handfield and Handfield (2021) have descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The following life history account is based on that of Tofangazi and Arthurs (2012) and Tofangazi et al. (2014). The larvae feed on warm season turfgrasses and can be pests on new lawns, turfgrass, golf courses, and athletic fields. The adults rest in sheltered sites such as tall grasses and shrubby areas during the day and are active at dusk. The females lay clusters of 10 to 35 creamy-white eggs on the upper surface of grass blades. The eggs become brownish-red with age and hatch in 3 to 4 days. The larvae pass through six instars, a pre-pupal stage and a pupal stage, with the entire sequence requiring 21 to 47 days depending on ambient temperatures. The first four instars are window feeders on the upper surfaces of grass blades and cause minor damage, while the last two instars consume sections of the entire blade and can cause severe damage to lawns and other maintained sites. The larvae feed at night and hide in the thatch during the day. They pupate in the thatch and construct a crude cocoon by binding together pieces of dried leaf blades. The larvae have cream-colored bodies with brown spots (pinacula) on each segment and dark, yellowish-brown heads. The bodies become more dull green with time, and the fully grown larvae average around 11 mm in length. Local populations often have three or four generations in southern Florida where they are active throughout the year.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Herpetogramma phaeopteralis is found in southern South America northward to Central America, the Caribbean and the southeastern United States. This species appears to be intolerant of winter freezes (Tofangazi et al., 2014), and disperses from southern localities northward each year to as far north as the northern U.S. and southern Canada (Ontario). The adults have been observed from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, Missouri, eastern Nebraska, and southern Minnesota. Apparent geographic isolates are also known from southern Arizona and New Mexico. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina, but is only rarely seen in the Blue Ridge.

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 are active year-round in Florida where there are often four or more generations per year, and mostly from August through November elsewhere in the U.S. As of 2023, our records range from mid-June through late-December, with a seasonal peak from August through November. Populations in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of North Carolina likely produce two generations per year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The larvae feed on grasses, and the adults are commonly found in residential setting or other sites where cultivated warm-season grasses are maintained.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on warm-season grasses, and in particular, members of the Poaceae (Allyson, 1984; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010; Tofangazi and Arthurs, 2012; Handfield and Handfield, 2021). The reported hosts include Creeping Bentgrass (Agrotis stolonifera), carpetgrasses (Axonopus spp.), Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.), Centipede Grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides), Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), Seashore Paspalum (P. vaginitium), St. Augustine Grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), and Zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica). - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights, and will come to sugar bait and nectar sources.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4S5]

State Protection:

Comments: This species occurs statewide and uses lawns and other maintained turfgrasses as hosts. It appears to be secure witin the state.

Photo Gallery for Herpetogramma phaeopteralis - Dusky Herpetogramma

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-11-07 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Tony McBride, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-10-28 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tony McBride, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-10-28 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Tony McBride, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-10-27 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-10-23 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-10-22 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-10-19 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: G. Newman on 2025-10-14 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-27 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-06 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-11-18 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-11-11 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-11-01 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-10-31 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-10-30 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-10-29 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Randy Newman on 2024-10-28 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-10-28 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-05 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-09-23 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-14 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-09-11 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-22 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2023-11-17 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2023-10-25 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-07 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-06 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-16 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-02 Brunswick Co. Comment: