Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Pilocrocis Members:	30 NC Records

Pilocrocis ramentalis Lederer, 1863 - Scraped Pilocrocis

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Spilomelini

P3 Number:
80a1035

MONA Number:
5281.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Cantillano (2019)

Adult Markings: In this species, the head, palps, thorax, abdomen and ground color of all wings are concolorous and vary from grayish-brown or purplish-brown to light clay-colored. The abdomen has a narrow white line on the posterior margin of each segment, and the marks on the forewing include an orbicular spot that is represented as a black dot, and a whitish reniform spot that is shaped like an arc. 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 near the middle. From there the line projects basally towards the reniform spot, where it loops back and runs perpendicular to the inner margin. All of the marks except the orbicular are margined on one side with a diffuse, thin, dark brown or blackish shade. The dark shading is on the basal side of the postmedial line and reniform arc, and on the outer side on the antemedial line. The hindwing has a single discal spot and a postmedial line that is similar to that of the forewing. Both have dark shading on the basal side. The fringe of both the forewing and hindwing is white, with a dark brown basal line that is often interrupted and checkered. It parallels a thin, diffuse, dark brown marginal line that is more prominent on the hindwing. The veins on the apical half of all of the wings are accentuated with darker scaling.

Wingspan: 24-29 mm (Covell, 2005).

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on foliage and either fold or web leaves together with silk to form a shelter. The shelter is typically filled with greenish-black frass. The later instars have dull, translucent, whitish-green bodies with two blackish, dorsal pinacula and one lateral pinacula per body segment. The head is amber colored with finer black marking, and the prothoracic shield has a large, blackish dorsal patch on each side (Cantillano, 2019). Enríquez (2005) estimated the period from egg to adult to require around 30 days in the lab, with larval and pupal stages lasting 10-12 and 7-9 days, respectively. He noted that this species can cause significant defoliation of its host plants in Cuba.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Pilocrocis ramentalis is found in Central America, the West indies, and eastern North America, including southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec). It occurs in the U.S. from Massachusetts southward to southern Florida, and westward to Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Illinois. This species is found in all three physiographic provinces in North Carolina, but is rarely observed in the Coastal Plain.

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 fly year-round in Florida and mostly from May through November farther north. As of 2023, our records extend from mid-May through late-October, with a seasonal peak from August through October.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records generally come from wet to mesic forests, but we have at least one from a barrier island.

Larval Host Plants: The host plants that are used in North America are poorly documented, with False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica; Urticaceae) being the only known native host (Enríquez, 2005; Heppner, 2007; Solis, 2010; Robinson et al., 2010; Cantillano, 2019). Other reported hosts include several tropical and subtropical species in the Acanthaceae (Dyschoriste quadrangularis; Justicia brenesii; J. carthaginensis; Odontonema strictum; O. tubiforme; Pachystachys coccinea; P. spicata; Ruellia blechum; R. inundata), as well as Achiranthes aspera in the Amaranthaceae. None of these species occur in North Carolina, but our native species of Ruellia might serve as hosts. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU

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

Comments: The residential status of this species needs to be confirmed in North Carolina. This species has a wide range in the Neotropics and could be present here primarily as a emigrant.

Photo Gallery for Pilocrocis ramentalis - Scraped Pilocrocis

Photos: 25

	Recorded by: Tony McBride, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-10-28 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-28 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-08-01 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-06 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-14 Pamlico Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-14 Pamlico Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin, Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Tom Howard on 2024-07-27 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-04 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-16 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-10-10 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-10-07 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-10-07 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-09-17 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-09-14 Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-10-07 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2020-09-28 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-10-08 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-08-27 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-08-19 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2017-10-27 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2017-10-13 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Robert Gilson on 2016-10-27 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Doug Blatny / Jackie Nelson on 2011-09-27 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2006-05-19 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2006-05-19 Carteret Co. Comment: