Moths of North Carolina
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Epiblema Members:
20 NC Records

Epiblema brightonana (Kearfott, 1907) - Brighton's Epiblema Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: EucosminiP3 Number: 621099.00 MONA Number: 3203.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Kearfott (1907b).                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a relatively small Epiblema with a broad forewing that is marked with two prominent dark marks that are outlined with white. The following description is based on those by Kearfott (1907b) and Wright and Gilligan (2023). The head, palps and thorax vary from grayish-brown to brownish-gray, while the palps, abdomen and legs are fuscous. The forewing is also predominantly grayish-brown to brownish-gray, with the most prominent mark being a broad, triangular, dorsal spot at around one-third the wing length whose rounded apex reaches slightly beyond the middle of the wing. The spot is narrowly outline with white except on the inner margin. A smaller spot of the same shape and color is present along the inner margin in the pretornal region. The pretornal spot is usually at least weakly connected to a narrow, irregular, and outwardly oblique white line that extends from the middle of the costa. The line is shaded inwardly with a diffuse dark brown band that narrows as it approaches the pretornal spot. Beyond this is a paler gray brown band that begins on the costal and widens inwardly to surround the dull-colored ocellus. The apical third of the costal usually has three or four pairs of dull-whitish strigulae that are interspersed with lines of dark brown scales. The hindwing is smoky fuscous and the fringe is brownish-gray.
Wingspan: 13-16 mm (Kearfott, 1907b).
Forewing Length: 5.2-7.9 mm; mean = 6.5 mm (Wright and Gilligan, 2023).
Adult Structural Features: Wright and Gilligan (2023) have descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Epiblema brightonana is found throughout much of the eastern U.S. and in adjoining areas of southern Canada (Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia). It is generally absent from the southeastern Coastal Plain, and at least one isolate has been found in British Columbia where it may have been introduced. The range in the U.S. extends from Maine southward to western North Carolina, central Alabama and eastern Mississippi, and westward to eastern Tennessee, Arkansas, eastern Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. As of 2024, we have records from the Piedmont and Blue Ridge, with the great majority from lower-elevation sites in the Blue Ridge.
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 June through September in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak typically in July and August. North Carolina populations are univoltine, which appears to be the case throughout the range. As of 2024, our records extend from early-July through late-August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records are mostly from mesic habitats, including rich forests, forest edges and semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are apparently undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
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: This species appears to be uncommon in North Carolina. More information is needed on its host plants and preferred habitats before we can accurately access its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Epiblema brightonana - Brighton's Epiblema Moth

Photos: 16

Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30
Swain Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-11
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-16
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-09
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-03
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-28
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-28
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-02
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-02
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-07
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Robert Gilson on 2015-07-15
Mecklenburg Co.
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