Moths of North Carolina
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12 NC Records

Diasemiopsis leodocusalis (Walker, 1859) - Brindled Shawl Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: SpilomeliniP3 Number: 801275.00 MONA Number: 5171.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species has complex but distinctive wing patterning. The forewing has a gray ground color that is overlain with a prominent white postmedial band that runs perpendicular from the costa and ends about one-third of the way inward. A second, whitish, irregular band originates on the inner margin just beyond the middle and runs obliquely outward towards the end of the postmedial band. Several blackish streaks or blotches are present on the wing. These include a diffuse blotch immediately apical to the postmedial band, a longitudinal streak immediately basal to the postmedial band, a short, diffuse streak immediately apical to the median white band, and a longer streak immediately basal to the median band. A white subcostal spot is sometimes evident in the middle of the wing. The entire wing is cross-marked with numerous short tan striations, and the costa has a series of tan dots from the postmedial band to the wing base. The fringe is checkered with a series of white and dark brown marks.

The hindwing is concave near the apex and arcuate. It is boldly marked with a series of irregular and alternating black and white bands, beginning with a narrow black band at the base that is followed by larger bands of alternating white and black color. The final band adjoins a sinuous black line that is bordered outwardly by a thin white line. The terminal third of the wing has a blackish shade and the fringe is checkered with alternating white and dark brown marks. The blackish portions of the wing are cross-marked with numerous short tan striations as seen in the forewing.
Wingspan: mean approximately 13 mm (Munroe, 1957).
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1957) 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.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Diasemiopsis leodocusalis occurs in Central and South America, the West Indies and throughout much of the southeastern U.S., where the range extends from Long Island, New York southward to southern Florida and westward to eastern Texas, Arkansas and western Tennessee. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Piedmont and southern Coastal Plain.
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 year-round in Florida and from July through December elsewhere. As of 2023, our records extend from early-August through mid-November.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Specimens have been collected from xeric, mesic and hydric habitats, including a Long-leaf Pine forest and a brackish marsh.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are undocumented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2-S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Diasemiopsis leodocusalis - Brindled Shawl Moth

Photos: 4

Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-11-14
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-10-30
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 1998-10-19
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 1996-10-09
Carteret Co.
Comment: