Tineidae

Monopis longella Pavlovski's

10 9 8 n=0 • 7 High Mt. • 6 N 5 • •• u 4 3 • • • m 2 • b 1 • 0 • e • • r 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 NC counties: 15 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec • o 10 • f 9 n=13 = Sighting or Collection 8 • 7 Low Mt. High counts of: in NC since 2001 F 6 l 5 3 - Guilford - 2020-10-21 4 i 3 2 - Guilford - 2019-05-06 g 2 Status Rank h 1 1 - Orange - 2015-05-08 0 NC US NC Global t 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 D Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec a 10 10 9 9 t 8 n=35 8 n=7 e 7 Pd 7 CP s 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 15 5 25 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Three periods to each month: 1-10 / 11-20 / 21-31 FAMILY: SUBFAMILY: TRIBE: [Tineini] TAXONOMIC_COMMENTS:

FIELD GUIDE DESCRIPTIONS: Beadle and Leckie (2012) ONLINE PHOTOS: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ADULTS: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, IMMATURE STAGES:

ID COMMENTS: This is a distinctively marked small moth that is difficult to confuse with any other other than M. monachella. The head, head tuft, and thorax are white to yellowish white. The antenna is dark brown near the base and becomes progressively lighter near the tip. The base color of the wing is dark brown to bluish black and often has a few scattered whitish scales intermixed. There are three or more patches of raised scales that run parallel to the inner margin and are centered at about one-half the wing length. The most conspicuous mark is a large white to pale yellow patch that begins on the costa and terminates just before the apex. The anterior edge slants posteriorly to the middle of the wing then angles posteriorly as a concave depression. The depression runs roughly parallel to the costa before tapering back to the costa. A darker stained area occurs within the patch along the costa. A semi-hyaline area that appears light rusty brown is usually evident just dorsal to the patch. is similar buts lacks the dark stained area within the large costal patch. This species is more northern and has not been found in North Carolina as of 2020.

DISTRIBUTION: Monopis longella is an exotic species that is native to southeastern Asia. Populations are widespread across eastern , including extreme southern Canada and much of the eastern US. The range in the US extends from Maine to Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, Missouri Illinois, and Michigan. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina from coastal regions to the lower elevations in the mountains.

FLIGHT COMMENT: Adults have been collected from February through November in areas outside of the North Carolina, with the adults most active in late summer. Populations in North Carolina appear to be bivoltine, with an initial brood in late spring or early summer, and an apparent second brood in late summer and early autumn.

HABITAT: Sato et al. (2019) found that this species strongly preferred owl nests in forested settings in Japan. We have many records from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods as well as natural, forested habitats.

FOOD: The larvae are detritivores and scavengers that feed on bird feathers, bird dropping, and organic debris in bird nests (Huang et al., 2011; Nasu et al., 2012; Sato et al. 2019).

OBSERVATION_METHODS: The adults are attracted to light. The larvae have not been found in the US, but presumably use bird nests here as in their native range.

NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM RANKS: GNR SNA

STATE PROTECTION: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

COMMENTS: This species is exotic and does not merit protection.

March 2021 The of North Carolina - Early Draft 1