Moths of North Carolina
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Carectocultus Members:
4 NC Records

Carectocultus perstrialis (Hübner, 1831) - Reed-boring Crambid Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: SchoenobiinaeP3 Number: 800695.00 MONA Number: 5307.00
Comments: Carectocultus perstrialis and C. repugnatalis are two previously recognized species that have fuscous forewings. The former has a prominent white stripe along the longitudinal axis of the forewing, while the latter lacks the stripe. These forms commonly occur sympatrically, and Solis and Becker (2003) showed that they are simply color morphs of the same species. Carectocultus repugnatalis is now treated as a synonym of C. perstrialis.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is variable in coloration and patterning. The forewing ground color is fuscous and there are two general color morphs. One has a prominent white longitudinal stripe that extends from the wing base down the middle of the wing to around three-fourths the wing length, then curves towards the apex. The second lacks the stripe altogether. The striped form may have either uniformly fuscous forewings, or fuscous wings that are dusted with white scales along the dorsal margin and onto the thorax and head. The striped morph also has a series of dusky dots along the terminal margin that are surrounded by whitish scales. The hindwings of both forms are mostly white, with a dusting of dark scales sometimes present along the costa and the subterminal area. The hindwing may also have a series of faint dusky dots along the terminal margin that are surrounded by whitish scales, but these are often missing or faint relative to those on the forewing. As of 2023, only the striped morph has been found in North Carolina.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Carectocultus perstrialis is found in maritime habitats from southeastern Texas eastward across the Gulf States to southern Florida, and northward along the Atlantic Coast to New York, Massachusetts and Nova Scotia. A disjunct group is also found in the Great Lakes region in Ontario, Michigan, northern Indiana and northern Ohio. This species also occurs in the West Indies and as far south as Venezuela (Solis and Becker, 2003). As of 2023, all of our records are from coastal 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
Flight Comments: The adults fly year-round in Florida and mostly from May through September elsewhere. As of 2023, we have records from mid-May through early-September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is typically found in marshes and other shallow wetlands with emergent vegetation.
Larval Host Plants: Beadle and Leckie (2018) reported that a Carex sp. was a host, but we are unaware of the source for this. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are active both during the day and at night, and are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S3]
State Protection:
Comments: This species appears to be rare within the state, but more information is needed on its habitat requirements, host plants, distribution and abundance before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Carectocultus perstrialis - Reed-boring Crambid Moth

Photos: 2

Recorded by: Ed Corey on 2021-08-27
Dare Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2018-09-03
Carteret Co.
Comment: