Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha): Choose a Family

Home

View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Anania Members:	10 NC Records

Anania extricalis (Guenée, 1854) - No Common Name

view caption

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Pyraustini

P3 Number:
80a0722

MONA Number:
4956.00

Comments: Munroe (1976) recognized two subspecies in this wide-ranging species. The nominate subspecies (Anania e. extricalis) occurs in North Carolina and is restricted to the eastern U.S.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923, as Phlyctaenia extricalis); Munroe (1976, as Nealgedonia extricalis)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Allyson (1981)

Adult Markings: The nominate subspecies that occurs in North Carolina is characterized by relatively dense scaling and a powdery, fulvous-brown ground color on the forewing (Munroe, 1976). The antemedial line is weakly dentate and the postmedial sharply so (Forbes, 1923). The postmedial line is broadly waved as it extends outward from the inner margin, then bows outward and is strongly dentate on the costal two-thirds of the wing. The subterminal line is absent, and the shade beyond the postmedial line is smooth rather than dentate. The orbicular is an obscure dot and the discocellular is a vague lunule. Framinghamia helvalis is similar in appearance but has a pale orbicular surrounded by a thick circular shade rather than a solid point. In addition, the discocellular bar is composed of a double bar rather than a single lunule.

Wingspan: 25 mm (Forbes, 1923)

Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1976) has descriptions of the male and female genitalia, along with images of the male genitalia.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: Forbes (1923) and Allyson (1981) reported that the larvae are solitary leafrollers of alders, but details of the larval life history are lacking. Tracy Feldman found a final instar larva on Alnus serrulata that was in a silken tube where pupation occurred shortly thereafter. Jeff Niznik and David George also found a cocoon in a rolled alder leaf, with the adult emerging 10 days later. The fully grown larvae are 23-26 mm long and rather nondescript (Allyson, 1981).

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: The nominate subspecies (A. e. extricalis) ranges from Massachusetts to Florida along the Atlantic Coast and from Illinois to Texas in the interior. The northern subspecies, A. e. dionalis occurs in Maine and New York in the United States and across southern Canada. As of 2023, we have only a few scattered records from the lower elevations in the Blue Ridge, the eastern Piedmont and the Sandhills.

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
Flight Comments: The adults have been observed from April through September in different areas of the range, with a peak in activity from June through August. As of 2023, our very limited records are from early June and mid-August.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records all come from riparian habitats.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are leafrollers on alders (Forbes, 1923). Munroe (1976) also reported that the larvae use Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera) and Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera), presumably in the northern part of the range where the host plants occur. As of 2025, the only host records that we have for North Carolina are for Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata). - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found on leaf folds on alders.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for Shoreline Shrublands

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S2S4

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

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Anania extricalis - None

Photos: 8

	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-07-30 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-07-30 Richmond Co. Comment: An adult that was reared from Alnus serrulata.
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-07-30 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment: A rolled leaf with a cocoon on Alnus serrulata; adult emerged on 2025-07-30.		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2022-06-05 Durham Co. Comment: Determined by dissection done by J.B. Sullivan
	Recorded by: Tracy Feldman on 2018-08-20 Scotland Co. Comment: A leaf fold with a fully grown larva that pupated two days later; on Alnus serrulata.		Recorded by: B. Scholtens on 2001-08-17 Swain Co. Comment: