Moths of North Carolina
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7 NC Records

Chilo demotella Walker, 1866 - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: CrambinaeTribe: Chiloini (=unplaced)P3 Number: 800833.00 MONA Number: 5472.00
Species Status: Chilo demotella appear to be a species complex of two or possibly three species. What appears to be true C. demotella occurs at Ft. Macon (many records), Occoneechee Mountain, Camp Lejeune, Carolina Beach State Park, and several places in the Croatan National Forest. The second species has been found only in April-May, also from the Croatan National Forest, and is quite a bit larger. The potential third one is based on female specimens from Dare County, although they look much like other "demotella" females (J.B. Sullivan).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Immature Stages: Stiling and Strong (1983)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The adults are a rather uniformly warm brown to brownish-tan, with the palps, head, thorax, abdomen and forewing all concolorous. The palps are sprinkled with darker scales, and the forewing lacks the scattered blackish dots that are present on C. plejadellus. The terminal lines is represented as a row of seven dark dots. The fringe is slightly paler than the adjoining ground color, and the hindwing is pale white with a concolorous fringe.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Stiling and Strong (1983) studied this species in Florida where the larvae bore in the stems of Saltmarsh Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Local populations were univoltine at mainland sites and the larvae overwintered in senescing stems between October and April. The younger larvae overwintered midway up stems, while the older larvae bored down toward the base. In October, from 2-20 young larvae occurred together in a single stem, but by February all stems contained a single larva. The presence of bore holes in the stems suggested that most larvae dispersed from the aggregates as they became older and colonized new stems. On a few offshore islets, there was a much smaller second generation, with larvae feeding inside the green stems in September.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Chilo demotella is primarily found in coastal marshes and wetlands in the Southeast, where it has been found in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Maryland. As of 2023, all of our records are from coastal habitats, except for one unusual record from Orange County in 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 adults have been observed from April through August in different areas of the range. As of 2023, our records are from late-May through late-June, with populations producing a single generation each year.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Populations are mostly found in coastal marshes and wetlands, particularly those that support Spartina.
Larval Host Plants: Saltmarsh Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora; Poaceae) appears to be the primary host species (Smith, 1986; Stiling and Strong, 1983; Smith et al., 2005). We are unaware of any other reported hosts. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found boring in Spartina stems.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S3]
State Protection:
Comments: This species is uncommon and largely restricted to coastal wetlands.

 Photo Gallery for Chilo demotella - No common name

Photos: 3

Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-06-08
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2006-05-30
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2006-05-30
Carteret Co.
Comment: