Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFCrambidae Members: Vaxi Members: 42 NC Records

Vaxi critica (Forbes, 1920) - Straight-lined Vaxi

Vaxi criticaVaxi critica
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Pyraloidea		 Family:
Crambidae		Subfamily:
Crambinae		Tribe:
Argyriini		P3 Number:
80a1458		 MONA Number:
5466.00		 MONA Synonym:
Argyria critica		Other Common Name:
Straight-lined Argyria
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Martinez and Brown (2007)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Vaxi critica is boldly patterned with orange or orangish-brown on a white background. The palps and head are white above, with the sides of both colored orange or orangish-brown. The forelegs are orangish, and the thorax has a narrow white median stripe above, with orange or orangish-brown laterally. The forewing has a silvery-white ground color with a broad, orange or orangish-brown, oblique median band. The terminal line and fringe are concolorous with the median band, which is margined on both sides by a thin line of orangish-brownish to blackish scales. Vaxi critica is similar to V. auratellus, but the median band of the latter dramatically widens near the inner margin to produce a connecting neck with the terminal line.
Wingspan: 15-18 mm.
Adult Structural Features: See images below.
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 critica is widely distributed across the eastern U.S. and in adjoining areas of southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island). The range in the U.S. extends from Maine to southern Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, northern Nebraska, Minnesota and northeastern North Dakota. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina, but is relatively uncommon in the Blue Ridge.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Vaxi criticaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: The adults fly year-round in Florida and in all but the coldest months in other southern states. Northern populations typically fly from June through September, with a seasonal peak in July and August. As of 2023, our records range from late-April through late-October. Populations in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain appear to have at least two generations per year.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: We have records from both barrier islands as well as a number of sandhill seeps, all of which are open and herb-dominated. We also have records from riparian habitats, including bottomland forests and lake and pond shore habitats.
Larval Host Plants: The larval 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 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 fairly common in North Carolina, but often restricted to moist or wet habitats. More information is needed on its host plants and larval life history before we can accurately assess its conservation status within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Vaxi critica - Straight-lined Vaxi

Photos: 30
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-07-11
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-16
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2023-09-25
Caswell Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-07
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-07-24
Orange Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-09-15
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-23
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2021-05-17
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2021-05-17
Columbus Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-17
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-05-04
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-10-26
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-09-21
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-09-21
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: j.wyche on 2017-09-24
Gates Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: j.wyche on 2017-09-05
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-08-10
McDowell Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2016-07-30
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: j.wyche on 2013-08-21
Gates Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: j.wyche on 2013-08-21
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: j.wyche on 2013-08-05
Gates Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-08-09
Warren Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2010-09-26
Beaufort Co.
Comment:
Vaxi critica
Recorded by: FKW on 2006-06-02
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Vaxi critica
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2006-04-23
Carteret Co.
Comment: