Moths of North Carolina
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Eustixia Members:
34 NC Records

Eustixia pupula Hübner, 1823 - Spotted Peppergrass Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: OdontiinaeTribe: DichogaminiP3 Number: 801017.00 MONA Number: 4794.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1972)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Munroe (1972)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a distinctively marked small moth with the head, thorax, legs, and ground color of the forewings and hindwings silvery white. The antenna and dorsal parts of the labial palp are black, while the forewing has a series of equally spaced, ink-black spots that cover most of the forewing. Three smaller spots are present in the middle of the subterminal area that form an outwardly bulging arc between two larger spots. The outer margin has a two triplets of small black spots – one near the apex and a second in the sub-tornal region. The hindwing is white with one or two lines of faint black spots near the outer margin.
Forewing Length: 6.5-8 mm (Munroe, 1972).
Adult ID Requirements: Unmistakable and widely known.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on Virginia Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum) and spin a delicate web on the seed heads. They eat unripe seeds out of the flat pods and leave two holes in the upper surface of each pod (Dyar, 1900; Munroe, 1972). They also feed on cabbage and black mustard. When feeding on cabbage the larvae can be found on the undersides of leaves on the outer part of the head. The final instar is green with a head that is mottled with brown. The subventral fold is narrowly whitish, and there are dorsal segmental bands of a dull crimson color that reach the subventral fold laterally. The early instars are mostly green, with the coloration and patterning slowly transitioning to that of the boldly marked final instar. Dyar (1900) has detailed descriptions of the instars. The pupa is formed in a compact, tough, opaque cocoon. The adults may overwinter as a pupa or emerge the same year (Munroe, 1972).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Eustixia pupula is broadly distributed in the eastern US and in southern Ontario. The range extends from southern Maine and New Hampshire westward across the Great Lakes region to Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska, then southward to southern Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. This species appears to be rare or absent from most of the Gulf Coast Coastal Plain from southern Georgia to Louisiana. In North Carolina, populations are relatively common in the Piedmont and lower elevations in the Blue Ridge, but rare in the Coastal Plain where is occurs in maritime habitats.
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 March through October in different regions of the US, with the peak flight from May through August. Local populations in North Carolina are univoltine, with the breeding season geared to the local phenology of Virginia Peppergrass. As of 2023, our records are from late-April through mid-August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are generally associated with disturbed habitats that support peppergrass. Examples include waste places, gardens, cultivated fields, pastures, roadsides and construction sites.
Larval Host Plants: Virginia Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum) is the native host, but Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and Black Mustard (B. nigra) are occasionally used where these species are grown commercially. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights, and the larvae can be found on the developing seed heads of Virginia Peppergrass.
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: This species appears to be relatively secure within the state.

 Photo Gallery for Eustixia pupula - Spotted Peppergrass Moth

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

Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-02
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-31
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22
New Hanover Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-05-17
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2022-08-19
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-07-23
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-07-05
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-11
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-29
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-04-22
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-27
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-06-08
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-06-01
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-20
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-05-15
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-06-25
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-20
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2020-06-01
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-06-17
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2018-05-24
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2015-06-19
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2015-06-07
Burke Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2014-07-17
Warren Co.
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Recorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-07-16
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2011-07-21
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-07-05
Warren Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: on 2009-06-15
Mecklenburg Co.
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