Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFCrambidae Members:
Neodactria Members:
26 NC Records

Neodactria zeellus (Fernald, 1885) - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: CrambinaeTribe: CrambiniP3 Number: 800888.00 MONA Number: 5380.00
Comments: The genus Neodactria contains several closely related forms that comprise a species complex that is poorly resolved. Members of this group, including N. luteolellus, N. caliginosella and N. zeella, can often be identified by coloration and patterning, but there appears to be much overlap in variation of external characters between the members of the complex, at least across the entire ranges of these species. There is currently a general lack of consensus among taxonomists as to the number of species that should be recognized. As Brian Scholtens (2017) noted concerning the species in the southeastern U.S., "These may or may not be distinct species. There is a great deal of variation in coloration and pattern, so that no clear groups can be easily defined." A comprehensive study of this species complex across the U.S. and Canada is needed. Our assignment of specimens to species is based on the original descriptions of the species and other evidence.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on that of Fernald (1896). The palps, head, and thorax are a pale leaden gray (Fernald, 1896). The ground color of the forewing is similar, but mixed with ashy gray and white, particularly outwardly. The median and postmedian lines are often obscure. When present they are ocherous-yellow and sometimes overlaid in places by dark brown, particularly on the costal two-thirds. The median line runs from the inner margin and crosses the end of the cell, where it is angulated, while the subterminal is irregular and crosses the wing about half way between the median line and the outer margin. A light-gray patch is sometimes present between the two lines near the center of the wing. Most specimens also have two narrow, pale ocherous lines that run longitudinally out from the wing base. One extends from the middle of the wing base to the subterminal line near the anal angle, while the second, which is often less plainly marked, runs parallel between this line and the inner margin. The subterminal space is gray, and the fringe has a pale, metallic-lead color. The terminal line that adjoins the fringe is black and very narrow, while the hindwing is pale fuscous with a lighter fringe.

Both Neodactria caliginosellus and N. luteolellus are similar in form and forewing pattern to Neodactria zeellus, but the ground color of the forewings is dark brown in N. caliginosellus and ocherous-yellow in N. luteolellus (Fernald, 1896). The latter also lacks the two pale ocherous lines that run from the wing base. We occasional find specimens of N. zeellus that are exceptionally dark, but still possess the two pale ocherous lines that run from the wing base.

Wingspan: 18-24 mm (Fernald, 1896); 16-22 mm (Ainslie, 1924)
Forewing Length: The outer margin of the wing is excavated below the apex (Fernald, 1896)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Neodactria zeellus occurs across the eastern U.S. from Maine to southern Florida, and westward to Mississippi, western Tennessee, eastern Oklahoma, Iowa and Minnesota. This species has also been observed in Colorado, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. AS of 2023, we have records from all three physiographic provinces, with most from the Piedmont.
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 February through November in different areas of the range, but primarily from June-through September. As of 2023, our records are from late-May through mid-October, with most from June and July. Populations in the Coastal Plain appear to produce at least two broads per year, while those in the Blue Ridge appear to be univoltine.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: The host plants appear to be undocumented. Forbes (1923) listed corn as a host, which traces back to Fernald (1896), but no evidence was provided to support this claim. - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Neodactria zeellus - No common name

Photos: 17

Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-09-05
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-05-31
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-05-31
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-09
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-09
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-04
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-04
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2022-06-30
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-29
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-29
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-20
Caswell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-09
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-10-11
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-07-12
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-05
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-05
Guilford Co.
Comment: