Moths of North Carolina
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130 NC Records

Blepharomastix ranalis (Guenée, 1854) - Hollow-spotted Blepharomastix Moth


Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: SpilomeliniP3 Number: 801256.00 MONA Number: 5182.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species has a light clay-colored ground on both the forewing and hindwing that is overlain with darker dull brown markings. The costa is shaded brown except for the apical third or so, and the antemedial line is slightly excurved. The orbicular is a well-marked ring, and the reniform a double bar or horseshoe-shaped mark. The claviform is very reduced and often appears as a dark dash or dot. The postmedial line has a stepped pattern that begins on the subapical region of the costa and runs towards the anal angle. It abruptly turns inward before reaching the anal angle, then angles again to run perpendicular -- and in a more sinuous fashion -- towards the inner margin near the middle of the wing. In males, the middle section is usually missing so that there is simply a subapical and median lateral line, while in females the entire postmedial line is often intact (Forbes, 1923). There is a dashed brown terminal line, and the fringe is a shade lighter than the ground color. The hindwing is generally similar to the forewing, with the marks consisting of a single, stepped postmedial line and a discal spot.
Wingspan: 20 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is poorly documented. Forbes (1923) reported that the larvae web together the leaves of Chenopodium but did not provide details.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Blepharomastix ranalis is found in Ontario and Quebec, and in a broad swath across the U.S. where the range extends from New Hampshire and Vermont southward to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, eastern Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin. Populations in Arizona and vicinity are now thought to comprise a separate species. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina, but is relatively uncommon in the upper 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 have been observed from March through September in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak from May through August. As of 2023, our records extend from late-April through early September, with a seasonal peak in May and June. Local populations in North Carolina are univoltine.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Specimens have been observed in a wide range of habitats in North Carolina that range from xeric communities in the Sandhills to a bog and rich hardwood slopes in the Blue Ridge. Many are from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The only reported host is an unspecificied species of Chenopodium (Forbes, 1923). - View
Observation Methods: The adults readily come to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4-S5]
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 in most areas of the state and appears to be secure.

 Photo Gallery for Blepharomastix ranalis - Hollow-spotted Blepharomastix Moth

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

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: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-19
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-07
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-02
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-28
Madison Co.
Comment: Was foraging at night on common milkweed.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-25
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-06-25
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-25
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-19
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-06-14
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-06-14
Richmond Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-13
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-10
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-06-09
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-06-08
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-06
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-06
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-04
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-02
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-05-31
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-05-28
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-25
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-22
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2023-05-22
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-13
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-21
Caswell Co.
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