Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Anacampsis Members:	99 NC Records

Anacampsis coverdalella Kearfott, 1903 - Coverdale's Anacampsis

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Anacampsinae

P3 Number:
59a0476

MONA Number:
2234.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Adult Markings: This species is boldly marked with contrasting yellowish-orange and dark-brown regions of the body. The two dark-brown zones include the apical third of the forewing, and the anterior region of the insect that includes the palps, head, thorax and the extreme base of the wing. The antenna is dark brown near the base and yellowish-orange elsewhere, and when positioned backwards along the forewing, matches the wing coloration. The forelegs and midlegs are brown, while the hindlegs are paler and more brownish-orange.

Forewing Length: 4-5 mm

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: As of 2025, we are unaware of any documentation of the larvae or the larval life history.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Anacampsis coverdalella is found throughout most of the southeastern US, with the range extending from Delaware, Maryland and Virginia southward to southern Florida, and westward along the Gulf States to eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma. The range extends northward from the Gulf Coast to northern Arkansas, and northern and eastern Tennessee. As of 2025, our records are from coastal communities westward to the central and western Piedmont. Adults have not been observed in the Blue Ridge and appear to be rare in Coastal Plain counties that are inland from the coast.

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: The adults have been observed from February through September in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak typically from May through July. As of 2025, our records are from mid-May through late-July, with one unusual record from early-December along the coast. Local populations in North Carolina appear to be univoltine, with a peak in June and July.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: We have records from a variety of habitats including semi-wooded residential neighborhoods, maritime forests, bottomland forests, dry, upland ridges and xeric pine forests.

Larval Host Plants: As of 2025, the larval host plants are undocumented. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Anacampsis coverdalella - Coverdale's Anacampsis

81 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-07-12 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, David Bradley, Becky Watkins, David Cheng, Michelle Lotker, Tracy Feldman, et al. on 2025-06-28 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Melody McMichael on 2025-06-26 Forsyth Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-06-17 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Larry Chen, Sarah Toner on 2025-06-16 Dare Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-06-02 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-30 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-15 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Hunter Phillips, Mark Shields on 2024-06-29 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-06-17 Lincoln Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Patrick Coin, Mark Basinger on 2024-06-16 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-15 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-15 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-15 Scotland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-14 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-06-13 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Hunter Phillips on 2024-06-07 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-20 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-26 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-24 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-22 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-16 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-13 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-09 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-06 Orange Co. Comment: