Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Achatodes Members:
44 NC Records

Achatodes zeae (Harris, 1841) - Elder Shoot Borer


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: ApameiniP3 Number: 932444.00 MONA Number: 9520.00
Comments: This genus contains two species, one Mexican and one from the eastern US, including North Carolina.
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded and seem to match others from Georgia to Canada. However, there is an unusual amount of heterogeneity and additional specimens from throughout the range of the species should be studied.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Silver, J. C. 1933. Biology and morphology of the spindle worm, or elder borer. USDA Technical Bulletin 345, USDA, Washington, DC.; Forbes (1954); Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium sized Noctuid. The ground color is crimson but overlaid with pinkish-brown; a distinctive patch of orange is present at the apex of the forewing, with the head and thorax the same color (Forbes, 1954).
Wingspan: 2.5 - 3.5 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult Structural Features: The male genitalia are quite characteristic: note the peculiar uncus which is curved under the tegumen; the aedeagus has a field of spines near the tip; and the vesica has one very distinct cornutus and a small sclerotized patch which may have had deciduous cornuti. In the female notice the sclerotized anal papillae which are pointed, a feature often found in females which insert their eggs into tight places such as elderberry shoots.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae bore into Elderberry and much of the life history has been described by Silver (1933). The larva is cream with two horizontal rows of black spots on each segment. Reports of the larva boring other plants need to be confirmed.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found throughout the state
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)

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