Moths of North Carolina
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Donacaula Members:
19 NC Records

Donacaula melinellus (Clemens, 1860) - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: SchoenobiinaeTribe: [Schoenobiini]P3 Number: 800710.00 MONA Number: 5316.00
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: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Martinez (2010).                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description of the males is based on that of Martinez (2010). The frons and labial palps are pale-yellow, the antennae yellowish-white, and the thorax pale-yellow. The forewing is pale-yellow and irrorated with brown. There is a brown spot near the end of the discal cell and a series of three spots on the fold, including one near the base of the wing, one at the middle of the wing, and one below the discal spot. In some specimens one or more of the spots on the fold may be indistinct. A brown, diffuse oblique line runs from the apex to the outer two-thirds of the inner margin and becomes indistinct just beyond the middle of the wing. Finally, there is a line of terminal dark spots on the veins that meet the outer margin. The forewings of the females are similar to those of the males, but have a diffuse, broad, longitudinal band in the subapical region that in some cases may extend from the base to near the apex. The hindwing of the males is yellowish-white, but turns yellowish-gray towards the outer margin. There is a terminal line of spots on the apical two-thirds of the outer margin. The hindwing of the females is yellowish-white throughout and lacks the terminal spots.
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: Donacaula melinellus is widely distributed across the eastern U.S. and in Ontario. Martinez (2010) identified specimens from Maine, Connecticut, Massachesetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Arizona. This species is found statewide in North Carolina.
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 a long flight season in Florida and other southern localities where they have been observed during most months of the year. Populations in the northernmost part of the range often only fly during June and July. In general, the peak flight period is from May through August. As of 2023, we have records that range from late-April to early September, with an outlier from early January.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Many of our records are from bottomlands and 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. melinellus 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-S4]
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 somewhat 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 melinellus - No common name

Photos: 8

Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-29
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-05-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-05-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-05-18
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-05-18
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2017-04-29
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jackie Nelson on 2013-09-10
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jackie Nelson on 2013-09-10
Ashe Co.
Comment: