Moths of North Carolina
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Loxostege Members:
2 NC Records

Loxostege commixtalis (Walker, 1866) - No Common Name

No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: PyraustiniP3 Number: 801495.00 MONA Number: 5016.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based mostly on that of Forbes (1923). The forewing is variable and can be either luteous and heavily streaked with fuscous (especially on the veins) or mostly fuscous. There is a long black basal dash near the middle of the wing, with a pale shade above it. The orbicular is a horizontal ellipse when distinct, and is often confused with the antemedial line. It is followed by a yellow patch that is sometimes divided by a black dash that connects the orbicular and reniform spots. The antemedial line is relatively far out and is deeply dentate, with the longest tooth in the fold. The postmedial line is often represented by a series of black wedges that are conspicuous beyond the cell, where their outer sides form an even line, and their points extend in along the veins. The subterminal area is often lighter than the general ground color, and there is a double terminal line with the outer one in the fringe. The hindwing is a paler fuscous with darker veins. It has a diffuse terminal band, a single terminal line, and a light gray fringe that is darker at the base.

Munroe (1976) noted that this species is often confused with L. cereralis, but the latter is a relatively large, night-flying species that is common in croplands, while L. commixtalis is a day-flying species that rarely strays far from its bog habitat. Size is helpful in sorting these out (forewing length = 10-12 mm for L. commixtalis and 13-16 mm for L. cereralis; Munroe, 1976).
Forewing Length: 8-12 mm (Munroe, 1976)
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1976) has descriptions and images 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. Munroe (1976) noted that much of the older literature on L. commixtalis actually refers to either Loxostege cereralis or L. munroealis (= L. sticticalis). Loxostege commixtalis is a bog-dwelling species, while the other two are agricultural pests.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This species has boreal affinities and occurs in Alaska and throughout most of southern Canada, including the Yukon Territory and British Columbia eastward to Nova Scotia. Populations occur much more sporadically elsewhere where they occur as far south as California, Illinois, western North Carolina and northwestern South Carolina. This species is also found in the Old World in Fennoscandia and possibly into northeastern Russia (Munroe, 1976). As of 2023, we have two historical records.
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 mostly fly from May through September in different areas of the range. As of 2023, our one dated historical record is from mid-August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Munroe (1976) characterized L. commixtalis as being a mostly boreal species that prefers bogs. We have two historical records, with one being for Beutenmuller from 1912 who collected one in the Black Mountains, but did not specify the habitat.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are diurnally active and can sometimes be seen flying low over sphagnum and heath in boggy habitats.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [SH]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
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