Moths of North Carolina

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Agriphila vulgivagellus (Clemens, 1860) - Vagabond Crambus

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Crambinae

Tribe:
Crambini

P3 Number:
80a1544

MONA Number:
5403.00

Other Common Name:
Vagabond Sod Webworm Moth

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Miller (1938)

Adult Markings: The following is based in part on the description by Fernald (1896). The palps are dull yellow with dark fuscous on the outside, and are heavily scaled at the tip. The head, thorax and ground color of the forewing vary from cream-colored to dull yellow. There are numerous dark brown, longitudinal streaks formed by lines of dark scales between the veins. The terminal line is represented by a row of seven black dots, and the fringe is brownish-bronze. The hindwing varies from light-brown to grayish-brown, and the fringe is long and slightly paler than the wing. Agriphila ruricolellus resembles A. vulgivagellus, but the latter is larger (20-39 mm versus 18-20 mm), darker overall, and lacks the median and subterminal lines that are present on A. ruricolellus.

Wingspan: 20-39 mm (Fernald, 1896); 22-25 mm (Ainslie, 1924).

Adult Structural Features: Miller (1939) has descriptions and illustrations of the male genitalia. Also, see below.

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: This species mostly feeds on grasses. It can reach very high densities in some areas and cause major damage to lawns, pastures and grasslands. The following life history account is from Miller (1939), who summarized much of the published literature by Felt (1894) and others. After mating, the females fly over grassy areas and drop their dry eggs over the ground. The cylindrical, ridged eggs are initially white but become bright coral red within a few days. Miller (1939) reported an average clutch size of 98 eggs for 58 females that he studied in Kansas. The hatchlings initially feed by rasping on the epidermis of the grass leaves. As they grow longer they first feed deeper and make long channels on the grass blade between the veins. With time they eventually move to the base of the plant where they construct shelter tubes of loosely woven silk. As cool winter weather approaches, the larvae spin vertical cocoons in the ground that consist of tightly interwoven silk and soil. The upper end of the cocoon is at ground level or slightly below the surface, averages around 20 mm in length, and has a fibrous plug that allows the adult to escape. The larvae overwinter, resume feeding in the spring, then pupate within the cocoon, with the adults emerging after two weeks on average. This is a late-flying species and the larvae aestivate in their cocoons during the late spring and early summer months before pupating (Miller, 1940). Ainslie (1924) noted that in Tennessee the overwintering larvae stop feeding in early June and then build their cocoons and aestivate during the summer months. Pupation occurs about 10 days before the adults emerge. Felt (1894) reported that larvae in the fall had a jet black head, a deep brown thoracic shield, and a brown body with deep brown pinacula.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Agriphila vulgivagellus is widely distributed across southern Canada and most of the U.S. where it has been found in every state except perhaps New Mexico and Nevada. In Canada, specimens have been documented from British Columbia eastward to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.

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 December in different areas of the range, with the southernmost populations flying for 4-5 months versus only 2-3 months for the northernmost populations. August through October are the peak months in most areas of the range. In North Carolina, the adults fly from mid-August to late-November, with a seasonal peak during September and October. Populations in North Carolina are univoltine, as is apparently the case for most populations throughout the range.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Most of our records are from residential neighborhoods, but also from a variety of more natural habitats. These include coastal dune and scrub communities, xeric communities in the Sandhills, wet meadows in the Blue Ridge, and alluvial sites along streams.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae appear to feed mostly on grasses, including pasture grasses and cultivated species such as corn, wheat and rye (Fernald, 1896; Robinson et al., 2010; Beadle and Leckie, 2012). Miller (1938) reported that larvae in Kansas accepted several native grasses when presented as food, including Yellow Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), a crabgrass (Digitaria), Buffalo Grass (Bouteloua dactyloides), and Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pretensis); however, none survived past about three weeks. Additional information is needed on the native host plants that are used by this species. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5

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

Comments: This species is widespread in North Carolina and often common in disturbed habitats. It appears to be secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Agriphila vulgivagellus - Vagabond Crambus

132 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-11-08 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-11-07 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-10-14 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-10-13 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-10-12 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-10-08 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-10-05 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-10-05 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-05 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-04 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-03 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-03 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Merrill Lynch on 2025-09-18 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-01 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-11-01 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-10-31 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-10-30 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-10-30 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-21 Wayne Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-10-20 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-13 Davidson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-13 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-08 Davidson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-08 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-06 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-06 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-10-05 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-03 Davidson Co. Comment: