Moths of North Carolina
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20 NC Records

Anania funebris (Ström, 1768) - White-spotted Sable Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: PyraustiniP3 Number: 801434.00 MONA Number: 4958.00
Comments: This wide-ranging species occurs in both North America and Eurasia. Munroe (1976) treated the North American populations as a separate subspecies (Anania funebris glomeralis) from the nominate form, largely based on the larger spots on the wings.
Species Status: Despite being boldly marked and diurnally active, this species appears to be palatable to predators.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Allyson (1981)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The diurnally active adults are very distinctive and easily identified. Both wings are black and each has two large white spots, one near the basal third and the other at around two-thirds the wing length. The forewing sometimes has a small white spot between the two, and there is a conspicuous orange tegulum at the base of each forewing.
Wingspan: 18-22 mm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is rather poorly documented. Allyson (1981) noted that the larvae feed on goldenrods and either live in a web on the underside of basal leaves or in the flower heads. The last instar is around 19-21 mm long. The prothoracic and anal shields are inconspicuous and the head capsule has pale spots. The pinacula on the thorax and abdomen are green.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Anania funebris is widely distributed in North America, but mostly at the more northern latitudes. It occur in Alaska and much of southern Canada from the Northwest Territories and British Columbia eastward to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. In the eastern U.S. it occurs from Maine southwestward through the Appalachian region to eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, and westward to Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Illinois, northern Indiana and eastern Kentucky. Farther west it has been observed in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and northern California. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Blue Ridge except for a single Piedmont record.
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 in North America from April through August. As of 2023, all of our records are from late-May through early-August. Populations in North Carolina appear to be univoltine.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from wet meadows, old fields, and roadsides that support flowering plants.
Larval Host Plants: The only reported hosts in North America are goldenrods (Solidago spp.) (Covell, 1984; Allyson, 1981). In Europe the larvae have been reported to use two species of legumes: Black Broom (Lembotropis nigricans) and Dyer's Greenweed (Genista tinctoria). The adults are often seen nectaring on plants such as clovers, blackberries, and yarrows, but we do not have any larval feeding records in North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are commonly seen during the day either resting openly on plants or nectaring on wildflowers.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Montane Forblands and Successional Fields
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2S3]
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 funebris - White-spotted Sable Moth

Photos: 3

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-09
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Bo Sullivan on 2013-07-08
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Katherine Hale on 2008-06-27
Ashe Co.
Comment: