Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Crambus Members:	42 NC Records

Crambus albellus Clemens, 1860 - Small White Grass-veneer

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Crambinae

Tribe:
Crambini

P3 Number:
80a1571

MONA Number:
5361.00

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: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Adult Markings: This is a mostly white crambid, with the palps, head, thorax, abdomen and ground color of the forewing pure white. The forewing ground is overlain with mostly pale-yellow to yellowish-brown concolorous marks. The pale-yellow to yellowish-brown median line extends obliquely outward from the costa to the discal fold just before the center of the wing, then acutely angles back to form a sharp tip. It terminates before reaching the cell and is generally obsolete on the dorsal half of the wing where it is sometimes represented by a few black scales (Forbes, 1923). The median line is followed by a short costal streak that parallels the median line and projects towards a double, outwardly angled, subterminal line. The outer line of the subterminal line often touches the outer margin at its tip, then angles back to the inner margin. Fresh specimens sometimes have a patch of widely scattered black scales between the median and subterminal lines. The other marks include a small, pale-yellow, triangular costal mark in the subapical region that is followed by a blackish line along the apical third of the outer margin. A series of five black marginal dots is also present along the dorsal half of the outer margin. The fringe is silver gray, with a white base on the costal third. The unmarked hindwing is pale gray or grayish white with a paler fringe.

Crambus albellus is similar to Microcrambus biguttellus, but the latter has two prominent black spots near the middle of the wing, a median line that is less acute, and a single subterminal line (double in C. albellus). Worn specimens of Microcrambus biguttellus can be confusing, particularly when the black spots are worn away.

Wingspan: 16 mm (Fernald, 1896).

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: This species has been generally referenced as feeding on grasses since the late 1800's, but the larval life history has not been documented.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Crambus albellus occurs in the eastern U.S. and in southern Canada from Saskatchewan eastward to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The range in the U.S. extends from Maine southward to New Jersey and Maryland, and through the Appalachian region to Tennessee, western North Carolina and northern Alabama, to as far south as central Mississippi. From Maine and other northeastern states, the range extends westward to Minnesota, northeastern North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky. In North Carolina, the species seems to be found primarily in the mountains, but recent records from the Coastal Plain and Piedmont suggest it may be more widespread in our state.

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 May through September in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in June and July in many areas. As of 2023, our records extend from late-May through late-July. Local populations in North Carolina are univoltine.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Klots (1963) reported that they are often common in grasslands, particularly in wet areas.

Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented, but are thought to be grasses based on the food preferences of other members of this genus. Fernald (1896) and Forbes (1923) noted that they feed on "grass'', but did not provide specifics. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3S4]

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

Comments: This species can be locally common in the Blue Ridge, but more information is needed on its habitat requirements and larval life history before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

Photo Gallery for Crambus albellus - Small White Grass-veneer

Photos: 24

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14 Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-12 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-11 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-07-11 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-27 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-06-25 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-25 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell and Simpson Eason on 2024-06-21 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-19 Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-14 Scotland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-10 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Larry Chen on 2024-06-08 Dare Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-25 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-24 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2023-06-16 Avery Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-28 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2018-07-09 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-08 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-19 Avery Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, K. Kittelberger on 2015-06-18 Avery Co. Comment: