Moths of North Carolina
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5 NC Records

Mesolia incertellus (Zincken, 1821) - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: CrambinaeTribe: PrionapteryginiP3 Number: 800783.00 MONA Number: 5331.00 MONA Synonym: Mesolia incertella
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: In this species the palps, head and thorax when viewed from above are white with darker dusting and marks. The palps tend to be whitish with darker, brushy scales near the end, and the thorax has three dark spots that form a triangular pattern. The forewing ground color is white and is dusted with dark brown on the basal half, as well as the region between the median and postmedial lines. The heavy dusting on the basal half is often organized as a dark streak that extends along the basal half of the costa and subcostal region. Several dark brown to blackish marks overlay the ground. These include an abbreviated antemedial line that is represented as a dark blotch on the inner margin, a broad, jagged, median line that is complete, and a thinner, jagged, dark brown, postmedial line at about four-fifths the wing length that widens at the costa and inner margin to form a small spot. The postmedial is margined on its outer side by a contrasting thin line of white ground color. The white ground is in turn followed by a zone of heavy dark brown dusting that may fill most of the subterminal area except for a prominent white patch near the middle of the wing, an oblique white streak near the apex, and a narrow band of white near the tornus (sometimes missing). There is a thin, dark brown, terminal line along the outer margin. The fringe is whitish, but fades to brown near the tip. There is also a prominent, dark brown basal line on the apical third of the fringe that fades towards the tornal half. The hindwing varies from grayish-brown to light brown and is unmarked except for a thin, dark brown, terminal line. The fringe is pale white and has a darker basal line that is most prominent on the apical third.
Wingspan: 19-25 mm (Fernald, 1896).
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Mesolia incertellus is most common in Florida from the Panhandle to the Keys, but scattered records are known from mostly coastal habitats in South Carolina, North Carolina and New Jersey. There is also an isolated record from western Kentucky that is questionable. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Sandhills.
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 during the summer months elsewhere. As of 2023, all of our records are from early-June through late-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records are all from xeric habitats in the Sandhills.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to blacklights.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Dry-Xeric Sand Barrens and Glades
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S1S2]
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 rare in areas outside of Florida. In North Carolina it is only known from the Sandhills where it appears to constitute a northern disjunct population.

 Photo Gallery for Mesolia incertellus - No common name

Photos: 2

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-13
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-13
Scotland Co.
Comment: