Moths of North Carolina
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59 NC Records

Conchylodes ovulalis (Guenée, 1854) - Zebra Conchylodes Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeTribe: SpilomeliniP3 Number: 801378.00 MONA Number: 5292.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a very distinctively marked species with all of the wings having a silvery white ground color that is overlain with strongly contrasting dark brown to blackish markings that resemble those of a zebra. These include thick basal and antemedial lines that precede the orbicular spot, and a reniform spot that is white in the middle. The postmedial line takes a meandering course that begins on the costa at around three-fourths the wing length, then runs across most of the wing before looping back to the reniform spot. From there it loops back again to the inner margin. Following this is a complete subterminal line and a relatively narrow terminal line. The hindwing has a series of five dark brown lines that converge towards the anal angle. The fringe of the forewings and hindwings is similar in being white with a light brown basal line that parallels the terminal line. The abdomen is also silvery white, with contrasting bold dark crossbands and a yellowish-orange patch with brown central marks on the terminal segments.
Wingspan: 23-30 mm (Leckie and Beadle, 2018).
Adult ID Requirements: Unmistakable and widely known.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on the foliage of broadleaf plants such as Annual Ragweed. Details of the larval life history are lacking, but the larvae are known to feed on leaves. The last instar rolls a leaf or portion of a leaf and pupates within a cocoon inside the shelter. The mature larvae have a translucent, greenish body with a whitish, longitudinal, dorsal stripe on each side. The head is light yellowish-green and unmarked.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Conchylodes ovulalis is found in northwestern South America, Central America, and eastern North America. It has been observed in Ontario, and in the U.S. from Massachusetts southward to central Florida, and westward to central Texas, Oklahoma, central Kansas, southern Illinois and eastern Nebraska. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina, but is relatively uncommon in the 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 from March through November in different areas of the range. As of 2023, our records extend from early May through late-August. Populations in North Carolina appear to have two generations per year.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records are mostly from fragmented landscapes with woods, early successional habitats and other disturbed habitats. Many of our records are from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are rather poorly documented, with most of the reported hosts being members of the Asteraceae (Robinson et al., 2010; Beadle and Leckie, 2018; BugGuide). The reported hosts include Annual Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Annual Marsh-elder (Iva annua) and a sunflower (Helianthus). Forbes (1923) stated "probably on sycamore" but that seems unlikely. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted 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 is a fairly common species in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge and appears to be reasonably secure.

 Photo Gallery for Conchylodes ovulalis - Zebra Conchylodes Moth

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

Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-09
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-27
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-30
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-04
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-05-02
Pender Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2022-07-02
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-01
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-16
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-05-03
Pender Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-08-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-28
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-23
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-17
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-29
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-21
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Heather Burditt on 2020-06-19
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Heather Burditt on 2020-06-19
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-26
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-07-24
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-06-15
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-09
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-09
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: K. Radewicz on 2019-06-05
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-05-27
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-17
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-16
Madison Co.
Comment: