Moths of North Carolina
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1 NC Records

Eupragia hospita Hodges, 1969 - Streaked Eupragia

Eupragia hospita
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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: DepressariidaeP3 Number: 59a0255 MONA Number: 953.00
Comments: Eupragia is a genus with four species that are found in northern South America, Central America, and the southern US. Two species occur in the US and only one in the Southeast.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Hodges (1969)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based in part on the original description by Hodges (1969) based on three males from Florida. The maxillary palp, frons, and vertex are white. The whitish labial palp is long and recurved with the dorsal and lateral surfaces of first and second segments grayish brown. The dorsal surface of the third segment is pale grayish brown. The scape of the antenna is white and bordered with gray-brown on the posterodorsal margin. The shaft is pale yellow to light tan and slightly darker distally. The tegula of the thorax is white with light brown scales anterolaterally. The forewing has complex patterning with a series of white, light brown, and dark brown longitudinal streaks. A group of two or three whitish anastomosing streaks extend from the wing base and run roughly parallel to the costal margin where they terminate before reaching the apex. A second set extends from the base near the tegula along the inner margin, then narrow and terminate at about one-half the wing length. When a live specimen is viewed dorsally, the streaks and tegula produce a conspicuous, whitish, V-shaped pattern behind the thorax. A series of smaller, alternating brown and whitish streaks occur on the apical third of the wing, and a series a small dark brown spots occur along the termen and apex. There is a dark brown spot at the beginning of the cell and a larger and somewhat crescent-shaped dark mark at the end. The cilia is gray-brown on the costa and apex, and lighter elsewhere. The hindwing is brownish gray, with the basal row of scales of the cilia slightly paler, and the distal row gray-white to whlte. The front leg has a light brown tibia and a light brown femur with a row of setae. The tarsal segments are light orange, with the apices orange-white. The middle leg is similar, but lacks the row of setae and have varying levels of white, light orange, orange-white and pale orange patterning. The hindleg had a light brown femur with a small patch of white scales at the apex. The tibia is white with a broad, medial light orange band. The ventral half of the tarsal segments are pale orange and the dorsal half white. The abdomen is mottled white and light brown on the dorsal surface, while the ventral surface is white medially and laterally, with a brown band dividing the white areas. Hodges (1969) noted that specimens vary greatly in appearance depending upon the amount of wear. Fresh specimens have distinct maculation that is heavily shaded with brown and gray-brown, while worn specimens lose much of the brown scaling.
Wingspan: 20-21 mm (Hodges, 1969)
Adult Structural Features: Hodges (1969) provides a detailed description and illustration of the male genitalia. In this species the width of the anellar lobes is one-third the length and the apex has stout setae. The apex of the anellifer is broadly rounded with stout setae, and with one or two stout (about one-half width of those at apex) setae costad of the midpoint. The apex of the tegumen is deeply excavated. The aedeagus is cylindrical and produced ventrally at the base. The vesica has numerous, fine cornuti. The female genitalia have not been described.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The plant hosts and larval life history are undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Eupragia hospita is found in the southeastern US. The main range extends from eastern Texas to Florida and South Carolina and it is largely restricted to the Coastal Plain. As of 2020, our one state record from Jones Co. is the northernmost known location for this species.
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
Flight Comments: Adults are on the wing between March through October. Populations appear to have two or more broods per year based on seasonal abundance records (iNaturalist). As of 2020, our one specimen was taken in late July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The preferred habitats are poorly resolved. Hodges (1969) collected specimens from a near pure stand of Bald Cypress, but it is uncertain if this species is used as a host.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented and in need of study. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU
State Protection:
Comments: As of 2020, we have a single record from Jones Co. and it is uncertain whether a local breeding population exists at the site. More data on the distribution and abundance of this species is needed before we can assess its conservation status within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Eupragia hospita - Streaked Eupragia

Photos: 1

Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2020-07-27
Jones Co.
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