Moths of North Carolina
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222 NC Records

Anageshna primordialis (Dyar, 1907) - Yellow-spotted Webworm Moth


Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: SpilomeliniP3 Number: 801254.00 MONA Number: 5176.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Dyar (1906)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based in part on the original description by Dyar (1906). In this species the ground of the forewing is pale yellow and mostly masked by a heavy dusting of dark brown. The transverse lines are dark brown to blackish and are margined with pale yellow on one side only. The antemedial line is slightly irregular and lined with yellow on the basal side. The postmedial line is lined with yellow on the outside and extends inward from the subapical area of the costa and projects to the tornus. The basal half is curved outward and there is a pale yellow patch on both sides where it meets the costa. A short, irregular, median line that is margined with yellow on the outer side extends inward from the inner margin and terminates before reaching a ring-shaped reniform spot with a dull yellow center. Immediately basal to the reniform is a conspicuous dull yellow triangular mark on the costa. A narrow dark-brown terminal line is present that is margined with yellow basally and parallels a thin dark brown line at the base of the fringe. The hindwing is predominantly brown and has a narrow, irregular, dark- brown antemedial line that is lined outwardly with a broad band of yellow. The postmedial has a much narrower yellow band on the outer margin. The terminal line and fringe are the same as the forewing, and the abdomen is brown with a thin yellow line on each segment.

Apogeshna stenialis has similar markings, but the region before the postmedial line is predominantly yellow rather than brown as seen in Anageshna primordialis. In addition, the orbicular and claviform spots are usually evident in A. stenialis and the thorax is yellow with two brown spots near the middle.
Wingspan: 12-15 mm (Dyar, 1906).
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: Anageshna primordialis is widely distributed across the eastern U.S. and in southern Canada from Manitoba to Prince Edward Island. In the U.S., the range extends from Maine to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, eastern Nebraska and eastern North Dakota. This species is found statewide in North Carolina.
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 during all but the coldest months in other southern states such as Georgia and Alabama. Farther north the flight season is mostly from April through October. As of 2023, our records extend from late March through early October. Local populations in North Carolina appear to produce two or three generations per year except for those at higher elevations in the mountains where there appears to be only one generation per year.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come predominantly from open, herb-dominaated habitats. These include barrier islands, inner Coastal Plain sandhills, mountain bogs, high elevation grasslands as well as a large number of residential areas.
Larval Host Plants: The larval host plants (if any) are unknown. - View
Observation Methods: The adults come well to blacklights and bait, and also nectar on wildflowers..
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is widespread and common within the state and appears to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Anageshna primordialis - Yellow-spotted Webworm Moth

165 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-07
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-06
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-02
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Terrell Tucker on 2023-09-30
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-09-28
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-09-16
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-15
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2023-09-12
Cumberland Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-11
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-10
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-09
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-09
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-09-05
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-04
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2023-08-25
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-19
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-08-19
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Avery Young on 2023-08-18
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-18
Caswell Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Swain Co.
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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.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-24
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2023-07-22
Cumberland Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-07-18
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-13
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-03
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-06-09
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-04
Madison Co.
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