Moths of North Carolina
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65 NC Records

Herpetogramma aeglealis (Walker, 1859) - Serpentine Webworm Moth

Herpetogramma aeglealisHerpetogramma aeglealisHerpetogramma aeglealisHerpetogramma aeglealis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: SpilomeliniP3 Number: 80a1017 MONA Number: 5280.00
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, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Solis (2010); Handfield and Handfield (2021)                                                                                  
Adult Markings: The adults have several color forms that range from pale gray with a yellowish hue on the forewing to predominantly dark brown, with the darker forms well-represented in North Carolina. Regardless of the general color, the head, palps, thorax, abdomen and dark colorings of the wings are concolorous. The marks on the forewing vary from medium to dark brown depending on the color form. The orbicular spot is dark and rounded or squarish, while the dark reniform spot is larger and either rectangular or curved inward. A white patch is present between the two spots, but not between the reniform spot and the postmedial line as seen in some of our Herpetogramma species.

The antemedial line is weakly sinuate and strikes the costa just anterior to the orbicular spot. The postmedial line projects inward from the costa at around three-fourths the wing length where it meets an outwardly bulged section with three blunt teeth. From there it projects basally towards the orbicular spot for a short distance, then sharply angles away after approaching the reniform spot and runs nearly perpendicular to the inner margin. A narrow, diffuse, pale line is present on the posterior margin of the postmedial line that contrast with a darker zone of dusting in the subterminal area. The forewing fringe can vary from light brown to dark brown, with a white region near the anal angle. There is a narrow, broken line at the base that parallels a brown marginal line that can be complete or weakly broken.

The hindwing is usually paler or whiter than the forewing, and the veins on the light forms often are dark and contrast with the paler ground color. There is an elongated discal spot and a postmedial line that is generally similar in shape to the one on the forewing. A whitish zone is present on the posterior margin of the postmedial line that is much more pronounced than the comparable pale zone on the forewing. It contrasts sharply with a darker zone of dusting in the subterminal area. The fringe on the outer margin is brown on the costal half and whitish on the tornal half, with a line of dark spots along the base of the brown region. The brown terminal line is well developed.

The dark forms of H. aeglealis are most easily confused with H. sphingealis. Both species have a white patch between the orbicular and reniform, but not between the reniform and the postmedial line. In the latter, the postmedial lines on both the forewing and hindwing are rather obscure and lack a pale or whitish zone on the posterior margin of the line.
Wingspan: 29–33 mm for males and 27–31 mm for females (Handfield and Handfield, 2021).
Adult Structural Features: Handfield and Handfield (2021) have descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on the foliage of ferns and herbaceous plants, and make shelters by folding and tying one or several leaves together, depending on the host plant. The larvae feed within the shelter and deposit their blackish frass in a large clump away from local feeding sites. The older instars have translucent, yellowish-green bodies with a dorsal and lateral row of yellowish-brown pinacula. The head is dull yellowish-brown above and the prothoracic shield has a blackish, dorsolateral patch on the posterior end. Pupation occurs within the shelter.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Herpetogramma aeglealis is found in eastern North America, including extreme southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec) and the U.S. from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to Louisiana, eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, eastern Nebraska, southern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina, but is uncommon in the Coastal Plain where it is largely restricted to bottomlands and other mesic habitats.
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
Immature 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 April through November in Florida, and mostly from May through September in the central and northern portions of the range. As of 2023, our records extend from mid-May through late September. Local populations in North Carolina appear to be bivoltine, except for those at higher elevations in the Blue Ridge where a single brood is produced annually.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is commonly found in rich, mesic hardwoods, bottomland forests, and along forest edges and openings.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae are polyphagous and have been reared on a taxonomically diverse group of plants (Forbes, 1923; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010; Solis, 2010; Handfield and Handfield, 2011, 2021; Beadle and Leckie, 2018; BugGuide). They commonly use ferns, including Interrupted Fern (Osmunda claytoniana), Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), and Woodwardia. As of 2024, we have one rearing record for North Carolina for Intermediate Wood-fern (Dryopteris intermedia). Other reported hosts include Canada Wild-ginger (Asarum canadense), ragworts (Packera), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Americn Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) and goldenrods, including Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) and White Goldenrod (S. bicolor). In North Carolina, Jeff Niznik and David George reared an adult from a larva using Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found in leaf folds.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forests
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 is found statewide in rich woods and bottomlands are appears to be secure within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Herpetogramma aeglealis - Serpentine Webworm Moth

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-01
Madison Co.
Comment: A reared adult from a fern ball on Dryopteris intermedia (see companion photo of fern ball from 2024-07-26). This appears to be one of the dark forms of this species.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-07-26
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2024-07-16
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-07-14
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-12
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-27
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-05-28
Orange Co.
Comment: An adult that emerged from a leaf roll on Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia); see companion photos of larva and leaf roll from 2024-04-28.		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-04-28
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-04-28
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-04-28
Orange Co.
Comment: A leaf roll on Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia); see companion photo of the adult that emerged on 2024-05-28.
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Swain Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-27
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-26
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-24
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-17
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-15
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-14
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-05-21
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-02
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-19
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-15
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-09-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-29
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-09-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2019-08-25
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-23
Madison Co.
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