Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Resapamea Members:
7 NC Records

Resapamea trigona (Smith, 1902) - a Cane Borer

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: ApameiniP3 Number: 932364.00 MONA Number: 9386.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Early instar larvae feed directly on the tender embryonic axillary shoots, but drop to the ground and bore into emerging cane culms after reaching the third instar. Larvae have been collected on Giant Cane (Arundinaria gigantea) during May along the French Broad River and along secondary streams where cane lines the streambanks.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
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: Stenophagous, feeding on species of Cane (Arundinaria spp.) All larval specimens from North Carolina were collected from Giant Cane (Arundinaria gigantea). This species occurs in floodplains along rivers and streams and can form extensive canebrakes along secondary streams in agricultural areas. Cattle readily consume Arundinaria and grazing can result in the complete destruction of local canebrakes. - View
Observation Methods: Although the adults are attracted to lights, daytime searches for early instar larvae using a beating sheet is a more productive way to document local populations. This species often co-occurs with Protapamea louisae and both species can be collected in May using beating sheets.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Montane Cane Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GU [S1S2]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is rare throughout its range because of its strong dependence on Giant Cane, which has suffered massive declines since European colonization. The remaining A. gigantea populations in North Carolina continue to decline because of cattle grazing, mowing, and replacement by invasive species.

 Photo Gallery for Resapamea trigona - a Cane Borer

Photos: 11

Recorded by: Tony McBride, Becky Elkin and Jim Petranka on 2023-07-22
Madison Co.
Comment: An older larva from a cane shoot on Arundinaria gigantea. 		Recorded by: Tony McBride, Becky Elkin and Jim Petranka on 2023-07-22
Madison Co.
Comment: An older larva from a cane shoot on Arundinaria gigantea.
Recorded by: Tony McBride, Becky Elkin and Jim Petranka on 2023-07-22
Madison Co.
Comment: A dying cane shoot of Arundinaria gigantea with a characteristic bore hole. 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-05-19
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-16
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-16
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-09
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-09
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-02
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-02
Madison Co.
Comment: