Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFPyralidae Members: Acrobasis Members: 20 NC Records

Acrobasis vaccinii Riley, 1884 - Cranberry Fruitworm Moth

Acrobasis vacciniiAcrobasis vacciniiAcrobasis vacciniiAcrobasis vaccinii
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Pyraloidea		 Family:
Pyralidae		Subfamily:
Phycitinae		Tribe:
Phycitini		P3 Number:
80a0073		 MONA Number:
5653.00
Species Status: "[vaccinii and amplexella] can be very close. Underside forewing can distinguish males, but females are generally by association" (Scholtens, 2017). In indigenella the medial band runs at an angle, in vaccinni it is perpendicular to the costa (J.B. Sullivan, pers. obs.).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Neunzig (1996)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Neunzig (1972)                                                                                 
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Acrobasis vacciniiAlamance 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.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come primarily from both montane and Coastal Plain areas where heath thickets are abundant
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on several species of heaths, including Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), Northern Highbush Blueberry (V. corymbosum), Cranberry (V. macrocarpon), and Huckleberry (Gaylussacia spp.); reports from apple (Malus spp.) and cherry (Prunus spp.), however, are probably erroneus (Neunzig, 1972). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Upland Heath Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Acrobasis vaccinii - Cranberry Fruitworm Moth

Photos: 13
Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Brian Bockhahn, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, John Petranka on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-06-18
Lincoln Co.
Comment:
Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-24
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-24
Madison Co.
Comment:
Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-26
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-26
Madison Co.
Comment:
Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-13
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-13
Guilford Co.
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Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: Paul Scharf on 2013-06-25
Warren Co.
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Acrobasis vacciniiRecorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-06-22
Ashe Co.
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