Moths of North Carolina
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Donacaula Members:
6 NC Records

Donacaula unipunctellus (Robinson, 1870) - No Common Name

Donacaula unipunctellus
view caption 		Donacaula unipunctellus
view caption
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: SchoenobiinaeTribe: [Schoenobiini]P3 Number: 80a1282 MONA Number: 5314.00
Comments: Members of the genus Donacaulis are found worldwide, but reach their greatest diversity in the Nearctic region. The group has proven to be taxonomically challenging due to the fact that most of the species are sexually dimorphic, are very similar externally, and exhibit substantial variation within species. Genitalia have proven to be the most useful diagnostic characters for delineating species, but almost all of the species were originally described based on external coloration and patterning. Descriptions and illustrations of genitalia were also lacking for most species until Martinez (2010) undertook a major revision of the Nearctic species. Her work revealed that there were at least 10 undescribed species in addition to the 11 described species in the New World. Additional studies of DNA barcoding and genitalia, including for North Carolina material, indicate that additional undescribed species remain to be formally described. "Some of these are probably identifiable, but, even with the Martinez thesis, there is a great deal of variation, and especially sexual dimorphism that makes these difficult" (Scholtens, 2017). "Some of these are probably identifiable, but, even with the Martinez thesis, there is a great deal of variation, and especially sexual dimorphism that makes these difficult" (Scholtens, 2017).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Martinez (2010)                                                                                  
Adult Markings: The following description is based on that of Martinez (2010). The frons, labial palps, antennae and thorax are all light brown. The forewing is also light brown and is irrorated with small dark spots. There is a large black spot in the distal area of the discal cell at about two-thirds the length of the wing, and a line of terminal spots on the veins along the outer margin. The hindwing is yellowish-white, with the males having yellowish-gray coloration toward the outer margin. The abdomen is yellowish-white, and the females have a yellowish-white anal tuft.
Adult Structural Features: Martinez (2010) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Martinez (2010) identified specimens from Nova Scotia, Maine, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Utah. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Coastal Plain, including the Sandhills and coastal forests.
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 March through September in other areas of the range (Martinez, 2010). As of 2023, our records range from early May through late-June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our limited records are mostly from sites near coastal wetlands.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented. Where known, the larvae of Donacaula species are stem borers of Poaceae and Cyperaceae that grow in wetlands (Martinez, 2010). This suggests that D. unipunctellus uses wetland grasses or sedges 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 [S2-S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species appears to be uncommon within the state, but additional information is needed on its distribution, abundance, preferred habitats and host plants before we can accurately assess its conservation status in North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Donacaula unipunctellus - No common name

Photos: 2

Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2005-06-19
Craven Co.
Comment: BOLD specimen.		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2005-05-19
Craven Co.
Comment: BOLD specimen