Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
View PDFBlastobasidae Members:
Calosima Members:
17 NC Records

Calosima dianella Dietz, 1910 - Eastern Pine Catkin Borer Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: BlastobasidaeSubfamily: BlastobasinaeTribe: HolcoceriniP3 Number: 421758.00 MONA Number: 1169.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Dietz (1910); Clarke (1960)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based primarily on the description by Dietz (1910) and Clarke (1960; as Holcocera lepidophaga). The labial palp is slender, reaches to the antennal insertion, and is sordid white and dusted externally with fuscous. The third joint is three-fourths the length of the second. The antenna is slender and simple, and is creamy white to sordid white with narrow, dark annulations. The head, thorax, and forewing vary from silvery or creamy white to ocherous buff or even darker. The forewing of whitish specimens often has a faint clay-colored wash on the apical fourth. The hindwing tends to be concolorous with the forewing, but slightly lighter overall. The legs are silvery white, and often heavily dusted with fuscous. This species varies geographically. Many specimens are creamy white, but in some populations they are light brown or tannish overall. Some populations also have individuals with fine blackish specks or spots on the forewing. As of 2021, specimens that we have observed in North Carolina are creamy white. BOLD data suggests that this taxon may contain two cryptic species. Like so many members of the subfamily Blastobasinae, there is much work that needs to be done on this and related taxa. Holcocera concolor is very similar to the whitish forms, but is restricted to Canada and the New England states. The males have a notch at the base of the antenna, but otherwise must be separated using genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: This species specializes on pines, but the larval life history is rather poorly documented. The larvae feed on the male flower buds and flowers, and on the basal scales of cones and vegetative buds (Clarke, 1960).
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Calosima dianella is found primarily in the southeastern US. The range extends from eastern Texas and Oklahoma eastward through the Gulf Coast states to Florida, then northward to North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. As of 2021, our records are all from the eastern Piedmont and 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