Moths of North Carolina
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10 NC Records

Microcrambus kimballi Klots, 1968 - Kimball's Grass-veneer

Microcrambus kimballi
view caption 		Microcrambus kimballi
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: CrambinaeTribe: CrambiniP3 Number: 80a1501 MONA Number: 5424.00
Species Status: "Usually can be identified, but rubbed specimens may need dissection" (Scholtens, 2017)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Klots (1968)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based on the original description by Klots (1968). The labial palp is white and somewhat shaded ventrally with brown. The head and thorax are white with some scattered brown scales. The forewing ground color is dull white with dark marks and dusting. The costal edge is broadly pale brownish to beyond the middle of the wing. The whitish medial line is relatively wide and has a diffuse darker margin on the distal edge that is often incomplete near the center of the wing. It runs obliquely outward from the costa to an acute point, and in some cases nearly reaches the subterminal line, then angles back and runs to the middle of the dorsal margin. The subterminal line is better developed and consists of two thin, wavy dark lines that are narrowly separated by whitish. It runs obliquely outward from the costa for about one-fourth of its length, then angles to run parallel to the outer margin as a scalloped or wavy line. Just before reaching the sub-tornal region it bends basally and runs to the inner margin at about four-fifths the inner margin length. The costa has a diffuse dark brown patch between the medial and subterminal line, and a second diffuse dark patch between the subterminal line and the apex. The remainder of the subterminal region beyond the subterminal line is mostly dull white. The terminal line consists of a line of six or seven black dots. The fringe is pale brown with a dull sheen, while the hindwing is dirty, brownish white with a faint, darker terminal line and a faint dark line in the fringe.

Microcrambus kimballi closely resembles M. minor and is best distinguished by the wavy or scalloped subterminal line versus the diffuse and poorly develop line on M. minor. Worn specimens may require dissection.
Forewing Length: 4.0- 5.8 mm (Klots, 1968)
Adult Structural Features: Klots (1968) has descriptions and illustrations of the male genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Microcrambus kimballi is found in the eastern U.S., with the range extending from southeastern Texas eastward across the Gulf Coast states to southern Florida and Georgia, and northward to South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. As of 2024, most of our records are from the Blue Ridge, with one 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 adult fly year-round or nearly so in Florida and from May through October elsewhere. As of 2024, our records extend from early-June to late-August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records are mostly from areas with mesic forests and nearby meadows, roadways or other disturbed habitats.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: As of 2024, this species has been collected from several sites in the Great Smoky Mountains and vicinity, and at two sites elsewhere. Overall, it appears to be uncommon in the state, but more information is needed on its distribution, abundance, and larval life history before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Microcrambus kimballi - Kimball's Grass-veneer

Photos: 3

Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Kyhl Austin on 2017-08-00
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: iNat: Photo 31533936; Creative Commons: CC BY-NC 4.0; image lightened.
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2004-07-20
Swain Co.
Comment: BOLD specimen.