Moths of North Carolina
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Donacaula Members:
3 NC Records

Donacaula tripunctellus (Robinson, 1870) - No Common Name

Donacaula tripunctellus
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: SchoenobiinaeTribe: [Schoenobiini]P3 Number: 80a1283 MONA Number: 5315.00
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).
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 pale-yellow in the females and yellowish-gray in the males. The forewing is concolorous with the head and thorax, but irrorated with brown scales. The discal cell has a brown spot and there is a series of three spots along the fold, with one below the discal spot, one on the middle of the fold, and a smaller spot near the base of the wing. The latter may be less noticeable in some specimens. There is an oblique line of smaller spots that extend from the apex to just past the middle of the wing that are inconspicuous in some specimens. A line of terminal spots is also present along the outer margin on the veins. The hindwing is yellowish-white and the abdomen is covered with a mixture of pale-yellow and yellowish-white scales. The anal tuft of the females is yellowish-white.
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 Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. As of 2023, our only record is from a lower-elevation site in Swain County.
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 have been found from February through November in different areas of the range (Martinez, 2010). As of 2023, our only record is from late-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our one record as of 2023 is from a lower elevation site near a campground in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented. Based on several life history studies, the larvae of Donacaula species appear to be stem borers of Poaceae and Cyperaceae that grow in wetlands (Martinez, 2010). This suggests that D. tripunctellus 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 SU
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: We have only one record as of 2023 and are uncertain if it reflects a vagrant or a reproducing, resident population.

 Photo Gallery for Donacaula tripunctellus - No common name

Photos: 2

Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2006-05-21
Carteret Co.
Comment: BOLD specimen. 		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2005-08-29
Carteret Co.
Comment: BOLD specimen.