Moths of North Carolina
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8 NC Records

Euchromius ocellea (Haworth, 1811) - Betled Grass-veneer

Euchromius ocelleaEuchromius ocelleaEuchromius ocellea
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: CrambinaeTribe: CrambiniP3 Number: 80a1464 MONA Number: 5454.00 MONA Synonym: Euchromius ocelleus
Species Status: This is an introduced species that appears to be native to the Mediterranean area. It probably became established in the U.S. in the early 1800's and has since spread throughout the U.S. and elsewhere. The adults often emigrate seasonally from more southern locales and are capable of making long-distance flights. Their numbers tend to fluctuate wildly from year to year in western populations (Powell and Opler, 2009).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Capps (1966)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Capps (1966)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based primarily on that of Capps (1966). The head and thorax are yellowish tan and the palps similar but dusted with darker scales. The forewing ground color varies from sordid white or yellowish-tan to pale-brown, and has distinct brownish or fuscous speckling before the postmedial lines. There are two conspicuous, wide, parallel, postmedial lines that vary from yellowish-tan to dull yellowish-orange. The lines are weakly sinuate and concave inwardly, with the area between them filled with silvery white or gray. The subterminal line is angled outward, with the dorsal two-thirds between the inner margin and the apex of the angle consisting of a narrow black line with white margins on both sides. The remainder of the line that runs to the costa is more diffuse and fuscous. There are two short, oblique, costal bars that terminate near the subterminal line and are concolorous with the postmedial lines. The area between the subterminal line and the second postmedial line is pale and overlain with fine, dark-brown striations. A dark-brown terminal line extends from the apex to the apex of the subterminal line, and is then replaced by a series of four blackish dots that are margined outwardly with silvery metallic scales. The hindwing is subhyaline and varies from sordid white to light brown. There is often a dark border on the termen, and the fringe is white.
Wingspan: 18-24 mm for males; 17-26 mm for females (Capps, 1966).
Forewing Length: 8-11 mm (Powell and Opler, 2009).
Adult Structural Features: Capps (1966) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Capps (1966) reported that the larvae feed on the roots of corn (Zea mays) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), but did not provide details. He noted that earlier reports that E. ocelleus feeds on stored agricultural products and dead vegetation are erroneous and that its association with these is likely accidental. However, Powell and Opler (2009) characterized it as feeding on dead leaves and thatch, and noted that they can reach very high densities in weedy grasslands and communities dominated by annual grasses. As far as we are aware, there are no detailed studies of the larval life history of this species.

Capps (1966) has a detailed description of the larvae. The last instars are 18-20 mm long with a pale amber head that has some brownish reticulations. The prothoracic shield is amber and has some brownish suffusion and a few dark fuscous patches. The body is sordid white with rather large, amber, rounded pinacula, and the anal shield is broadly rounded with a few inconspicuous brownish patches.

Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Euchromius ocellea is a cosmopolitan species that is found mostly in temperate and subtropical regions, including North and Central America, Europe, Africa and India. It has been found in almost every state in the conterminous U.S., in southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec; Nova Scotia), and southward through Mexico to Panama and French Guiana. As of 2023, we have a few scattered records, with at least one from each of the three physiographic provinces within the state.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Euchromius ocellea
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: In North America the adults fly year-round or nearly so in southern localities such as Florida and Texas, with progressively shorter flight seasons as one moves north. The northernmost populations mostly fly from June through October. As of 2023, we have one early-season record from early April, with the rest from late-July through late-September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats are poorly documented. Our few records include xeric Sandhills communities as well as more mesic habitats in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge.
Larval Host Plants: Capps (1966) reported that the larvae feed on the roots of corn (Zea mays) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), but did not provide details. He noted that earlier reports that this species feeds on stored agricultural products and dead vegetation are erroneous. However, Powell and Opler (2009) characterized it as feeding on dead leaves and thatch, and noted that they can reach very high densities in weedy grasslands and communities dominated by annual grasses in the western U.S.. As far as we are aware, there are no detailed studies of the larval life history of this species that clearly document the food resources 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:
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This is an introduced species from the Old World and does not merit protection.

 Photo Gallery for Euchromius ocellea - Betled Grass-veneer

Photos: 4

Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-11-05
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lior Carlson on 2023-08-15
Alexander Co.
Comment: Creative Commons image by Lior Carlson (iNaturalist).
Recorded by: Bo Sullivan on 2022-09-26
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2012-07-28
Camden Co.
Comment: