Moths of North Carolina
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4 NC Records

Pyrausta inornatalis (Fernald, 1885) - Inornate Pyrausta Moth

Taxonomy
Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeP3 Number: 801516.00 MONA Number: 5037.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)Technical Description, Immature Stages: BugGuide                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is easily distinguished by the uniformly bright-pink forewing that is unmarked except for the brown-based, white fringe (Munroe, 1976). The head and anterior part of thorax are buff-colored, and the hindwing is light fuscous with a bit of pink terminally. This is our only pinkish Pyrausta that lacks markings on the forewings.
Forewing Length: 6-7 mm (Munroe, 1976)
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1976) has descriptions of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Unmistakable and widely known.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is rather poorly documented, but adults were successfully reared from larvae that were feeding on two species of sage (Salvia spp.; BugGuide). The larvae have pale greenish-white bodies with conspicuous black pinacula. The head is light amber and largely unmarked.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Pyrausta inornatalis is found in North America at relatively southern latitudes. It occurs from southern Florida westward through Texas to southern California, and northward to Kansas, Arkansas, southern Illinois, southern Ohio and southern Pennsylvania. As of 2023, all of our records are from the eastern Piedmont.
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 fly from March through December in Texas and mostly from April through October elsewhere. As of 2023, our records are from late-July through mid-October.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species appears to favor open habitats such as meadows, roadsides, and gardens where sages grow.
Larval Host Plants: Limited observations (BugGuide) suggest that the larvae specialize on sages (Salvia spp.), including Red Sage (S. coccinea) and Mealy Sage (S. farinacea). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and are occasionally seen resting on vegetation during the day and nectaring on flowers.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
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 Photo Gallery for Pyrausta inornatalis - Inornate Pyrausta Moth

Photos: 4

Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-09-10
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-10-15
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2020-09-01
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Rob Van Epps on 2020-07-31
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: