Moths of North Carolina
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35 NC Records

Crambus multilinellus Fernald, 1887 - Multinellus Grass-veneer

Crambus multilinellus
view caption 		Crambus multilinellusCrambus multilinellusCrambus multilinellus
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Pyraloidea		 Family:
Crambidae		Subfamily:
Crambinae		Tribe:
Crambini		P3 Number:
80a1574		 MONA Number:
5364.00
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: Fernald (1887)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based in part on the original description by Fernald (1887). The palps, head, and thorax are dull orangish-yellow, while the ground of the forewing is a brighter orangish-yellow. The orangish-yellow forewing ground color is divided by a series of narrow, longitudinal, silvery lines to create a multi-striped pattern, with each of the wider orangish-yellow stripes margined with black scales. The most conspicuous mark is a white stripe on the costal half that extends from the wing base to around three-fourths the wing base. It is split along most of its length by a wide orangish-yellow line that is margined with black scales. The extreme edge of the costa is fuscous. The orangish-yellow subterminal line is angled outward and margined with a line of silver scales on the outer edge. The orangish-yellow stripes and silvery lines on the basal two-thirds of the wing run all the way to the subterminal line and fuse with it. Other conspicuous marks include two longitudinal white streaks on the costal half between the tip of the white band and the subterminal line, and a black terminal line on the costal third of the outer margin that is replace by a line of five black dots on the remainder of the outer margin. The fringe has a pale, metallic color, and the hindwing and fringe are white.
Wingspan: 26 mm (Fernald, 1887).
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: Crambus multilinellus is primarily found in the southeastern Coastal Plain and adjoining areas of the eastern and southern Piedmont from New Jersey southward to southern Florida, and eastward to Alabama and Mississippi. Isolated records that may reflect vagrants are also known from Minnesota, southern Illinois and Ontario. As of 2023, most of our records are from the Coastal Plain, including the Sandhills and coastal pine forests, with a few others from the eastern Piedmont and northern Blue Ridge.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Crambus multilinellus
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 March through September in different areas of the range, with the longest flight season in Florida. As of 2023, our records extend from early-May through mid-July, with a seasonal peak in May and June. Local populations in North Carolina are univoltine.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species appears to be fairly common in savanna habitats in the Outer Coastal Plain, and in both xeric pine forest and Sandhill Seepage Slopes in the Fall-line Sandhills. We have, however, one record from a mesic, residential site in the Blue Ridge and a second from a Piedmont site that is located adjacent to a large hayfield. That field is intensively managed and frequently mowed, and may not support any native species of wetland grasses. A few other open, wet habitats in the vicinity may be more likely sources. A 1938 aerial photo shows that these fields existed at least that far back in time and that fields, in general, were much more extensive in this area at that time.
Larval Host Plants: This species probably feeds on grasses like other members of this genus, but this has not been verified. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. They appear to be at least somewhat day-active, and can be flushed fairly easily by walking through its habitat.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Wet Grasslands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] S2S4
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 uncommon throughout its range, including in North Carolina. Additional information is needed on its specific habitat requirements and host plants before we can accurately assess its conservation status within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Crambus multilinellus - Multinellus Grass-veneer

Photos: 21

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-23
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-29
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Larry Chen on 2024-05-31
Beaufort Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-12
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-17
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-06-14
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-05-31
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-05-28
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Steve Hall on 2021-06-08
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-06-05
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-27
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-06-14
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-30
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-06-11
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2014-06-23
Pender Co.
Comment: A few were flushed from savanna grasses