Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFTortricidae Members: Bactra Members: 109 NC Records

Bactra verutana Zeller, 1875 - Javelin Moth

Bactra verutanaBactra verutanaBactra verutanaBactra verutana
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea		 Family:
Tortricidae		Subfamily:
Olethreutinae		Tribe:
Bactrini		P3 Number:
51a0478		 MONA Number:
2707.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Species in this genus overlap one another in the coloration and pattern of the forewings and in many cases dissection is required to identify them to species (Heinrich 1926). However, strongly marked specimens show characteristic differences which Heinrich used to create a key based on appearance alone. Bactra verutana and furfurana -- the two species that occur in our area -- are both clay colored to dark wood-brown (Forbes, 1923). According to Heinrich, they differ mainly in terms of the markings (or lack thereof) along the costal region of the wing. In verutana, the costal region lacks any dark patches, particularly any extension of a basal dark patch out to the costa. In furfurana, a dark basal patch is present that reaches outward to the costa, or is at least represented by an outer dark margin on the costal half of the wing. The dorsal field of the wing (when folded) is marked with fine blackish or brownish spots or striae; in some of our specimens, this mottling appears to be greenish. Larger, more distinct dark spots may also be present. Forbes mentions slightly darker bars marking the position of the antemedian and median lines. A dark streak may also occur in the fold, partially overlapping the cell and sometimes enclosing a pale discal dot. A dark apical dash may also be present and there may be some longitudinal streaking towards the outer margin. The costal margin is marked with short, oblique dark and pale streaks. The terminal line is more continuous but also is somewhat checkered with black and white. The inner margin is likewise marked with alternating dark and pale streaks.
Wingspan: 11-17 mm (Heinrich, 1926)
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: While we have records that span the state, from the mountains to the coast, this species seems to be very rare or absent from most of the mountain counties, and has not been observed at higher elevations.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Bactra verutanaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on members of the Cyperaceae and Juncaceae (Forbes, 1923; Brown et al., 2010). Specific host genera include flatsedge (Cyperus), rush (Juncus), and bulrush (Scirpus). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Sedge, Grass, and Rush Mires
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Bactra verutana - Javelin Moth

 103 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-11-07
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Larry Chen, Sarah Toner on 2025-09-06
Beaufort Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-08-25
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-08-20
Durham Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-03
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-03
Moore Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-08
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-07-04
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-07-03
Wake Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-29
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-28
Moore Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-06-18
Alamance Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-24
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-24
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-22
Durham Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-04-29
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-04-27
Pender Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-12-17
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-11-18
Wake Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-11-11
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-10-31
Pender Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-10-29
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: David George, Randy Newman on 2024-10-28
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Bactra verutana
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2024-10-28
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Bactra verutana
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-22
Wayne Co.
Comment: