Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Vaxi Members:	21 NC Records

Vaxi auratellus (Clemens, 1860) - Curve-lined Vaxi

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Crambinae

Tribe:
Argyriini

P3 Number:
80a1457

MONA Number:
5465.00

MONA Synonym:
Argyria auratella

Other Common Names:
Curve-lined Argyria, Curved-lined Vaxi Moth

Comments:

Identification

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

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

Technical Description, Adults: Martinez and Brown (2007)

Adult Markings: Vaxi auratellus is a distinctively marked crambid that is boldly patterned with orange and white. The palps and head are white above, with the sides of both colored orange. The forelegs are orange, and the thorax has a thin white center with orange dorsally and laterally. The forewing has a silvery-white ground color with a broad, orange, outwardly-oblique median band that widens markedly as it approaches the inner margin. The terminal line and fringe are both orange, with the former connected to the median band by a narrow orange neck along the inner margin. The median band is margined on both sides by a thin line of dark orangish-brownish scales, while the terminal line has a similar margin of dark scales on its inner side. The hindwing is white with a white fringe. Vaxi critica is similar, but the median band does not widen dramatically as it approaches the inner margin to produce a connecting neck between it and the terminal line.

Wingspan: 15-18 mm (Covell, 1984).

Genitalia and other 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: Vaxi auratellus is widely distributed across much of the eastern and central U.S., and in adjoining areas of southern Canada (Saskatchewan;Manitoba;Ontario;Quebec;New Brunswick;Nova Scotia). In the U.S. the range extends from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, eastern Nebraska, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Isolated records are also known from Colorado. As of 2023, we have one site record from the northern Blue Ridge, with the remainder from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

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 in Florida and from April through October elsewhere, with a seasonal peak typically from June through August. As of 2023, our records range from late-April through mid-September. Coastal Plain populations appear to have two or three generations per year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: This species is generally associated with wet, open habitats. We have records from a mountain bog, from sites in the Sandhills with seepage slopes or headwater streams adjoining Long-leaf Pine communities, and from lake margins, wet savannas, and other coastal wetlands.

Larval Host Plants: The hosts are apparently undocumented. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and can be flushed from ground vegetation during the day.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2S3]

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

Comments: This species is uncommon in the state and generally associated with wetlands. Additional informations is needed on its host plants and preferred habits before we can accurately assess its conservation status

Photo Gallery for Vaxi auratellus - Curve-lined Vaxi

Photos: 13

	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-08-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson, Stephen Dunn on 2022-06-04 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-25 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-17 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-09-14 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-09-14 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Chris Talkington on 2015-07-10 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: FKW on 2006-07-05 Gates Co. Comment: