Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Prionapteryx Members:	15 NC Records

Prionapteryx achatina Zeller, 1863 - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Crambinae

Tribe:
Prionapterygini

P3 Number:
80a1401

MONA Number:
5334.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Fernald (1896).

Adult Markings: In this species the head, thorax, and forward-projecting palps are brown. The forewing has a pale white ground color, much of which is masked with a dark brown, diffuse shading and darker marks. The costa and subcostal region has a dark brown longitudinal streak that extends from the base to near the apex. The streak is bordered by a lighter region in the middle of the wing and is interrupted by an outwardly oblique, short, white costal streak at about one-half the wing length, and a white postmedial line at about three-fourths that is outwardly bowed. The first streak is shaded with dark brown outwardly, while the postmedial line is shaded with dark brown inwardly on the costal half of the wing. The dorsal half of the wing is lighter colored and has two blackish-brown blotches that include a relatively small blotch at around one-fourth along the inner margin, and a larger and often z-shaped patch just beyond the middle. The subterminal region is shaded with brown except for a prominent, squarish white patch near the middle of the wing, and one or two narrow outwardly oblique streaks in the apical region. The fringe is mostly white. The hindwing is uniformly brown and also has a white fringe.

Wingspan: 22-25 mm (Fernald, 1896).

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Prionapteryx achatina is found in eastern and central North America. Specimens have been observed in three geographically separate areas that include 1) coastal and Coastal Plain communities from New Hampshire southward to Georgia, southern Florida, and Alabama, 2) the Great Lakes region in southern Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Illinois, northern Indiana, northern Ohio, and southern Ontario, and 3) central Texas, southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and Colorado. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Coastal Plain, including the Sandhills and a barrier island.

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 observed from April through October in Florida and from March through September elsewhere, with peak seasonal activity typically in July. As of 2023, we have records from mid-April through mid-September. The population at Fort Macon State Park appear to be bivoltine, with a spring and late-summer generation, while the Sandhills population appears to be univoltine with only a late-summer brood.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations in North Carolina are found in xeric habitats, including Sandhill Longleaf Pine forests and maritime scrub and spoil communities.

Larval Host Plants: The host plants (if any) are undocumented. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

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 SNR [S2S3]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species is uncommon in North Carolina and is only known from the Sandhills and Fort Macon State Park as of 2023. It appears to occupy a fairly restricted habitats but we need additional information on its distribution, abundance, host plants and larval life history before we can accurately assess its conservation status within the state.

Photo Gallery for Prionapteryx achatina - None

Photos: 16

	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-03 Currituck Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-02 Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-02 Currituck Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-02 Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-04-20 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-08-18 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-25 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-25 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-04-12 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-09-11 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-04-27 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-04-26 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2005-08-29 Carteret Co. Comment: Bold specimen.		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2005-08-29 Carteret Co. Comment: Bold specimen.
	Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2005-08-29 Carteret Co. Comment: Bold specimen.		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2005-08-29 Carteret Co. Comment: Bold specimen.