Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
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View PDFPterophoridae Members:
Hellinsia Members:
3 NC Records

Hellinsia paleaceus (Zeller, 1873) - Ironweed Plume Moth

Hellinsia paleaceusHellinsia paleaceus
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Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Pterophoroidea		 Family:
Pterophoridae		P3 Number:
63a0107		 MONA Number:
6207.00		 Other Common Name:
One-spotted Plume Moth
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Hellinsia paleaceus
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: Larvae reportedly feed on ironweeds (Robinson et al., 2010). Our only feeding record is for New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis). - View
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:

 Photo Gallery for Hellinsia paleaceus - Ironweed Plume Moth

Photos: 4

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-13
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-07-31
Orange Co.
Comment: On Vernonia noveboracensis.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-08-28
Madison Co.
Comment: Verified by dissection by J.B. Sullivan