Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFBatrachedridae Members:
Duospina Members:
3 NC Records

Duospina trichella (Busck, 1908) - No Common Name

Duospina trichellaDuospina trichella
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Batrachedridae		Subfamily:
Batrachedrinae		Tribe:
[Batrachedrini]		P3 Number:
59a1685		 MONA Number:
1420.00
Comments: Duospina only two species in the US.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Hodges (1966)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based on that of Hodges (1966). The head is orangish-white and somewhat lighter than the forewings. The antenna is about three-fourths the length of the forewing, and is brownish orange with faint annulations. The labial palp is ascending and slightly recurved, and the apex of the second segment has some brownish scales. The thorax is light to pale orange with a thin, median brownish orange line. The forewing ground color is pale orange and overlaid with grayish orange. The apical fourth is overlaid with light brown. There is an elongated brown spot near the middle of the wing and just beyond one-half the wing length. A second smaller spot is often evident at about four-fifths and below the tornus. At the wing tip, there is a narrow, brown, curved band in the cilia that extends around the apex then fades as it extends towards the dorsal cilia. The dorsal cilia are mainly pale orange, but often have a second fainter dark band near the middle. The hindwing is pale orangish-gray and tinged with yellowish white distally. The cilia are mainly pale orange. The legs are pale orange to grayish orange or orangish white, and the abdomen is orangish to orangish white. Hodges (1966) noted that the amount of brown on the forewing varies substantially.
Wingspan: 11.5-15 mm (Hodges, 1966)
Adult Structural Features: Hodges (1966) provides detailed descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
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: Duospina trichella is found in eastern North America from the New England states and adjoining areas of Canada (Ontario; Quebec), southward to Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, Tennessee, and Illinois. As of 2021, we have two isolated records from the Piedmont and lower mountains.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Duospina trichella
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: Adults are active as early as March in Florida, and from June through September in other areas outside of North Carolina. As of 2021, our two records are for June and August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The hosts are unknown and the preferred habitats are poorly documented.
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are apparently unknown. - View
Observation Methods: The adults occasionally visit lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: We have only two records for this species as of 2021, and additional information is needed concerning its distribution, abundance, and habitat requirements before we can assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Duospina trichella - None

Photos: 2

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-06-02
Orange Co.
Comment: