Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Lateroligia Members: 5 NC Records

Lateroligia ophiogramma (Esper, 1793) - Double Lobed Moth

Lateroligia ophiogrammaLateroligia ophiogramma
view caption 		Lateroligia ophiogramma
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Noctuinae		Tribe:
Apameini		P3 Number:
932363		 MONA Number:
9385.10		 Other Common Name:
Double Lobed Borer
Comments: There is but a single species in this isolated genus of Apameine moths. Originally from Europe to Japan, it was introduced at least twice into the United States (Troubridge et al, 1992), has spread across Canada, and is progressing southward down the Appalachians.
Species Status: North Carolina specimens have been barcoded and match those from elsewhere in the US, Canada and Europe.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Mikkola et al. (2009)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Wagner et al. (2001)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-sized, black and brown marked Noctuid. The forewing has a dark brown to blackish patch extending along the costa down to the fold in the central part of the wing; the terminal area may also be dark, sometimes with dark wedges extending towards the subterminal line. The basal and subterminal areas, as well as the medial area below the fold is a lighter tan to gray-brown, as is the filling of the fairly large reniform spot. Adults are fairly distinct but are sometimes confused with one of the forms of Mesapamea fractilinea. Sexes are similar.
Forewing Length: 13-15 mm (Mikkola et al., 2009)
Adult Structural Features: The genitalia are quite distinct and do not indicate close relationship to other Apameine genera.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The caterpillar bores the stems of Glyceria, Phragmites and Phalaris species of grasses. As typical of borers, it is devoid of most color and appears to overwinter as an egg or young larva (see Wagner et al., 2001, for illustrations and a more detailed description).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Currently known only from the northern Mountains in North Carolina but is likely to spread farther.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Lateroligia ophiogrammaAlamance 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: Our few records are all from mid-June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Known host plants are primarily wetland species but our records come from mesic, upland forests.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae reportedly feed on large stemmed grasses in the genera Glyceria, Phragmites, and Phalaris (Wagner et al., 2011). - View
Observation Methods: Adults readily come to ultraviolet light but would not be expected to respond to bait.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNR [SNA]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This exotic species is now a resident in the northwest corner of the state and may well spread throughout elsewhere. One possible beneficial effect is reduction of some of our stands of invasive Phragmites and Phalaris, but its impact to native species of tall grasses needs to be determined.

 Photo Gallery for Lateroligia ophiogramma - Double Lobed Moth

Photos: 3
Lateroligia ophiogrammaRecorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-24
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Lateroligia ophiogrammaRecorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
Comment:
Lateroligia ophiogrammaRecorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
Comment: