Moths of North Carolina
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21 NC Records

Pyrausta niveicilialis (Grote, 1875) - White-fringed Pyrausta Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: PyraustiniP3 Number: 801554.00 MONA Number: 5073.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Despite its simplistic patterning this is a distinctive moth. The forewing and hindwing are both uniformly blackish fuscous with prominent white fringes. The forewing has a trace of a buff postmedial line that is more prominent on the costa, where it appears as a diffuse subapical spot.
Forewing Length: 10-12 mm (Munroe, 1976).
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1976) has descriptions of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Very little has been reported on the larval life history. Charley Eiseman reared an adult from Canada Horsebalm (Collinsonia canadensis). The larvae rolled the leaves and in some cases nibbled at the midrib so that the portion with the roll drooped toward the ground (BugTracks: Dec. 23, 2013). The larvae were translucent greenish-white with largely unmarked heads, prothoracic shields, and anal shields. Three conspicuous black pinacula were on each side of each body segment. The larvae turned red shortly before pupating and spun a fibrous cocoon. Terry Harrison has also observed the larvae feeding on the flowers and leaves on Collinsonia in Illinois.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Pyrausta niveicilialis is found in eastern North America, including Ontario and Quebec, and in the eastern U.S. from eastern New York and Connecticut southwestward through the Appalachian region to central Alabama, and westward to Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin. As of 2023 all of our records are from the Blue Ridge, with the exception of one record from the 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 have been observed from March through November in different areas of the range, with the the most active months from May through August. As of 2023, our records extend from late-April through early-September.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of our records are from mesic hardwood forests or forest edges.
Larval Host Plants: Charley Eiseman (BugTracks: Dec. 23, 2013) reared an adult from Canada Horsebalm (Collinsonia canadensis), as did a second person on BugGuide. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and are occasionally seen nectaring on flowers or resting on vegetation in the open.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Pyrausta niveicilialis is largely restricted to the Blue Ridge and is at the eastern limit of the range at this latitude. We need additional information on its host use and habitat requirements before we can accurately assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Pyrausta niveicilialis - White-fringed Pyrausta Moth

Photos: 10

Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-30
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-09-07
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-08-31
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-08-23
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-08-09
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-06-11
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-03
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2014-07-11
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: