Moths of North Carolina
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1 NC Records

Crambus ainslieellus Klots, 1942 - No Common Name

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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: CrambinaeTribe: CrambiniP3 Number: 80a1564 MONA Number: 5354.00
Comments: The genus Crambus includes around 155 species that are distributed globally. Some of the species are significant pests that can cause damage to agricultural crops, lawns and rangelands. This is one of 41 species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Pohl and Nanz, 2023), and one of fifteen species that occur in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Klots (1942)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based on that of Klots (1942). The labial palps vary from yellowish brown to brown and are slightly bronzy. The vertex and collar are a lighter yellowish brown, and the thorax is darker brown and bronzy. The ground color of the forewing is yellowish brown, but can sometimes be quite dark or have a distinctly bronzy iridescence. The most conspicuous mark is a broad, silvery white, longitudinal, stripe that extends from the wing base before ending just before the subterminal line. The stripe is narrowly separated from the brown costa and gently tapers to a sharp point. The subterminal line runs obliquely from the costa toward the outer margin, then curves to form a rounded angle of approximately 90 degrees and runs to the inner margin. Between the terminal, tapering portion of the discal band and the costa (below vein R5) there is a small, spindle-shaped white dash that can vary from very small to large enough to join the discal band. There are a few indistinct dark lines between the dorsal edge of the longitudinal stripe and the submarginal line, and a well-defined, diagonal, white costal streak just before the subterminal line. The apical area is white and has a narrow, dark brown, triangular patch that connects basally with a curved dark line that runs to the costa beyond the submarginal line. The area below the apical area and between the subterminal line and outer margin is usually slightly more grayish than the ground color of the wing, and has four or five narrow black dashes. A narrow, darker brown marginal line is present and is most distinct below the apex. The forewing fringe is semi-lustrous, brownish, and lighter basally, while the hindwing is a very pale brown with a dirty white fringe.

Crambus ainslieellus is very similar to C. leachellus in coloration and patterning. In C. ainslieellus the broad longitudinal stripe is separated from the costa by a thin brown line along its entire length, while in C. leachellus the longitudinal stripe touches the costa along the basal half of the wing so that the brown line is restricted to the apical half. These species are easily distinguished based on their genitalia (Klots, 1942). Crambus praefectellus is also similar, but has a narrower stripe, with the brown area between the stripe and the costa noticeably wider and complete.
Forewing Length: 9.4-13.2 mm (mean = 12 mm; Klots, 1942).
Adult Structural Features: Klots (1942) has descriptions and illustrations of the male genitalia, which are distinctive.
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: Crambus ainslieellus appears to be widespread in North America, but its distribution is poorly documented. Klots (1942) reported specimens from Washington, Montana, and Maine in the U.S., and from British Columbia and Manitoba in Canada, while Pohl et al. (2018) found it to be widespread across southern Canada, including in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. MPG has additional records from Maine, Maryland and Colorado. As of 2023, we have a single record from the interface of the Coastal Plain and Piedmont in Montgomery 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 very limited data that is available has records from June through October throughout the range. As of 2023, we has a single record from May 31, 2022.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our one record is from a diabase ridge that adjoins a floodplain.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: This species comes to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU
State Protection:
Comments: We have a single record for this recently discovered species in North Carolina from a diabase ridge in Montgomery County. It appears to be rare within the state, but much more information is needed on its distribution, abundance, host plants, preferred habitats and resident status before we can assess its conservation needs.