Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Fissicrambus Members:	50 NC Records

Fissicrambus profanellus (Walker, 1866) - Profane Grass-veneer

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Crambinae

Tribe:
Crambini

P3 Number:
80a1488

MONA Number:
5431.00

Species Status: Fissicrambus haytiellus and F. profanellus are two very similar forms that often cannot be reliably identified based on external morphology. Both the males and females of these species can be reliably identified using genitalia and specimens that have been examined to date from North Carolina have all proven to be F. profanellus (J. B. Sullivan, personal communication). As such, we are treating all specimens that resemble haytiellus/ profanellus as F. profanellus. Records for F. haytiellus in North Carolina that are on internet resources (e.g., MPG) have not been verified by genitalia and additional work is needed to document this species within the state.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Adult Markings: In this species the palps are brownish-yellow with a dusting of darker brown scales. The ground color of the forewing varies from golden-brown to medium-brown, and the costal and subcostal regions are typically darker than the remaining ground. The ground is overlain with variable numbers of dark brown to blackish diffuse spots and streaks and darker dusting. The most diagnostic mark is a white longitudinal stripe that begins at the wing base just below the costa and runs along the costal third of the wing. It begins to smear and fade at around one-third the wing length, and often continues as a narrow line along the center of the wing before completely fading at around two-thirds the wing length. In some specimens the line may continue all the way to the outer margin. A small, black, discal spot is present just dorsal to the line, and the veins on the distal half of the wing are dull white and contrast with the darker ground color, particularly on the costal half of the wing. The terminal line is represented as a line of fine black dots, and the fringe is concolorous with the adjoining ground color. The hindwing varies from light gray to grayish-brown and has a slightly paler fringe. Fissicrambus mutabilis is generally similar, but lacks the white longitudinal stripe that fades apically.

Forewing Length: 10 mm or less (Bleszynski, 1963)

Adult Structural Features: Bleszynski (1963) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.

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: Fissicrambus profanellus has southern affinities and is found in the U.S. from North Carolina southward to southern Florida, then westward across the Gulf Coast states to Texas and southern Oklahoma. Bleszynski (1963) also identified specimens from Jamaica, Cuba, Guatamala and the Yucatan. As of 2023, all of our records are from the central and southern Coastal Plain, except for one eastern Piedmont record.

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 fly year-round or nearly so in Florida, Alabama and Texas, and mostly from March through October elsewhere. This species is bivoltine in North Carolina, with first flight from mid-April through late-June and the second from mid-August to early December.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records are from residential neighborhoods and dry habits such as xeric Sandhills communities, maritime dune and scrub communities, and coastal pine communities.

Larval Host Plants: The hosts are apparently undocumented. Heppner (2007) lists grasses, but does not provide details. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to UV and building lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3-S4]

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

Comments: Populations appear to be relatively secure in North Carolina where this species reaches the northern limit of its range.

Photo Gallery for Fissicrambus profanellus - Profane Grass-veneer

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

	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-07-12 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-10 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-16 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-04-27 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-04 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-10-04 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-14 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-16 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-13 Pamlico Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-11 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-25 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-28 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-06 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-06 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-06 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-11-06 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-10-25 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-08 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-08 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-07 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-07 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2023-10-06 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-17 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-17 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-05-12 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-11-22 Carteret Co. Comment: