Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
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View PDFPterophoridae Members: Hellinsia Members: 26 NC Records

Hellinsia balanotes (Meyrick, 1908) - Groundsel Plume Moth

Hellinsia balanotesHellinsia balanotesHellinsia balanotesHellinsia balanotes
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Pterophoroidea		 Family:
Pterophoridae		P3 Number:
63a0110		 MONA Number:
6210.00		 Other Common Name:
Baccharis Borer Plume Moth
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Identifiable through photographs (D. Lott, pers. comm. to JBS).
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Hellinsia balanotesAlamance 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:
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on Baccharis species, including Groundsel-tree (B. halimifolia) and Saltwater False-willow (B. angustifolia) (Eiseman, 2022). In North Carolina, stem mines have been recorded on Groundsel-tree. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Groundsel-tree 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 Hellinsia balanotes - Groundsel Plume Moth

Photos: 29
Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-05
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-05
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25
Columbus Co.
Comment:
Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-19
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-11-02
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: David George, Randy Newman on 2024-10-28
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-05
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-31
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Nathan Vaughan, Sam Schoenberg, Lauren Stanfa on 2024-08-31
Person Co.
Comment:
Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-12-08
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Stem mine in Baccharis halimifolia, beginning on leaf tissue, then descending the petiole into the stem where it continues for 15 cm, sometimes doubling back. No larva found.		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-12-08
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Stem mine in Baccharis halimifolia, beginning on leaf tissue, then descending the petiole into the stem where it continues for 15 cm, sometimes doubling back. No larva found.
Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-12-08
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Stem mine in Baccharis halimifolia, beginning on leaf tissue, then descending the petiole into the stem where it continues for 15 cm, sometimes doubling back. No larva found.		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: R. Newman on 2023-10-09
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-09-14
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-09-14
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-05-23
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-09-28
Wake Co.
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Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2021-09-23
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-07-20
Graham Co.
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Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-05-23
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-20
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2021-05-20
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2021-05-20
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2021-05-20
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-17
Onslow Co.
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Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Gary Maness on 2018-09-19
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: Gary Maness on 2018-09-19
Guilford Co.
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Hellinsia balanotesRecorded by: on 2009-05-20
Mecklenburg Co.
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