Moths of North Carolina
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64 NC Records

Herpetogramma sphingealis Handfield & Handfield, 2011 - No Common Name


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: SpilomeliniP3 Number: 801201.00 MONA Number: 5279.10
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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Handfield and Handfield (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Among the eastern North American Herpetogramma, this is a relatively large species with the wingspan around 31–37 mm (Handfield and Handfield, 2011). The forewing is mostly uniformly dark-brown and the transverse lines that are usually conspicuous on other Herpetogramma are obscure. The upperside of the head, thorax, and abdomen are concolorous with the brown forewings. The most conspicuous marks are small, dark orbicular and reniform spots that are separated by a cream-colored rectangular patch, and a white patch on the fringe at the anal angle that contrast with the otherwise brown fringe. A dark terminal line is present at the base of fringe. The hind wing is dark brown with a dark discal spot and concolorous with the forewing. The fringe is dark brown except for a zone of white scales that extends from the anal angle to about one-fourth the length of the fringe.
Wingspan: Males vary from 34–37 mm; females from 31–34 mm (Handfield and Handfield, 2011).
Adult Structural Features: The genitalia are distinct. Handfield and Handfield (2011) provide descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia and contrast these with those of H. aeglealis. Male genitalia of H. sphingealis differ from those of H. aeglealis in the length of the aedeagus and the details of the vesica. The female genitalia are similar to those of H. aeglealis, except for the relative length of the ductus bursae.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae are leaf rollers that create distinctive 'fern balls' on native ferns. These are made by rolling either the fern apex or the lateral pinnae from the tips downward to form a ball that is held together with silk. Ruehlmann et al. (1988) conducted a detailed life history study of this species at a site in Georgia where Christmas Fern was used as the host plant. The larvae make a progressive series of feeding shelters as they grow, typically on sterile fronds. The youngest larvae produce bundle shelters that may consist of only a few fern leaflets bound together. They later make fiddlehead shelters from fern fiddleheads that are bound with silk. These are used for 3-21 days before constructing the final shelter type, the globe shelter. This shelter is constructed at night, is spherical in shape, and constitutes the familiar 'fern ball' that is commonly seen in woodland settings. To construct a globe shelter the larva makes a series of notched bends in the frond rachis that allows it to bend the tip downward. Silk is used to fold and bind the leaflets (pinnae) and roll the plant material into a ball. As they grow the larvae abandon existing globe shelters and construct larger ones, typically on the same plant. As such, most fern balls will lack larvae or pupae as the season progresses.

The fern balls are typically 3-5 cm wide and filled with dark frass that forms a messy ball internally. The older larvae are light dirty yellowish-green with a light brown head capsule and somewhat darker thoracic plates. The last instar pupates within the fern ball, and the adults emerge 7-12 days later. Note: although Ruehlmann et al. (1988) reported that they studied H. aeglealis -- the species was actually H. sphingealis -- which was undescribed at the time (see Handfield and Handfield, 2011 for details).
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: The main range of H. sphingealis extends from southern Quebec and the adjoining New England states southward and westward through the Appalachian region and Piedmont to central Alabama and central Mississippi. The range extends westward to eastern Ohio, central Kentucky, and throughout most of Tennessee westward to the Ozarks. Isolated populations have been found in southern Louisiana and northern Florida. In North Carolina, this species is appears to be restricted to mesic forests in the Piedmont and 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)

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