Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Cosmopterigidae Members:	Triclonella Members:	18 NC Records

Triclonella pergandeella Busck, 1901 - Bush-clover Triclonella

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Cosmopterigidae

Subfamily:
Cosmopteriginae

Tribe:
[Cosmopterigini]

P3 Number:
59a0410

MONA Number:
1524.00

Other Common Name:
Sweetclover Root Borer Moth

Comments: Triclonella is a New World genus with approximately 20 species that occur from Washington, D.C. and northwest Arkansas south through Central America and the Antilles to northern Argentina. Five species occur in America north of Mexico (Hodges, 1978).

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Leckie and Beadle (2018)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Hodges (1978)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Busck (1901a)

Adult Markings: This is a distinctive moth with a bold two-toned pattern and a small black dot on the forewing. The following detailed description is based on those of Busck (1901a) and Forbes (1923). The antenna is purplish black, with two silvery white, thin, longitudinal lines from the base to the tip. The labial palp is black, and the second joint has four longitudinal thin silvery white lines. The terminal joint has a single longitudinal white line in front. The face and head are brownish black with a thin white line over the eyes. The thorax and basal three-fifth of the forewing are light brownish-yellow, and there is a small black, white-edged dot on the middle of the cell at about two-fifths the wing length. The outer two-fifths of the wing is purple-black and is edged on the anterior border with a thin line of white scales. The boundary with the brownish-yellow portion begins on the costa at about four-fifths and extends obliquely in a broadly wavy pattern to the middle of the inner margin. A small white spot is present near the tornus. The basal part of the cilia is black and sprinkled with white scales, while the tips of the cilia are mouse gray. The hindwing and cilia are fuscous to purplish gray, and the abdomen purplish black. The legs are mostly purplish black, with indistinct silvery annulations on the tarsi. The hind tibia has one broad silvery annulation and silvery white outer spurs. Ponometia semiflava is somewhat similar, but the head is yellow and it lacks the black dot. Anacampsis coverdalella is also similar, but has a dark brown thorax and wing base.

Wingspan: 14-15 mm (Busck, 1901a; Forbes, 1923)

Forewing Length: 5.2-6.2 mm (Hodges, 1978)

Adult Structural Features: Hodges (1978) has illustrations of the male and female genitalia.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The following life history account is based on observations by Busck (1901a) on larvae that used Perplexed Tick-trefoil (Desmodium perplexum). The eggs are laid singly on the underside of a leaflet and the larva feeds between two leaflets that are tied together. Just before pupating, the larvae enlarges its shelter by adding a third leaflet. A thin, white, half-transparent, oval cocoon is spun inside, then suspended by a slight web. The pupa is light brown. Busck (1901a) noted that the larvae are very agile and will quickly move forwards or backwards when disturbed, or drop on a silken thread. There are two or three broods per year and the adults from the final brood overwinter. The full grown larva is about 12 mm long, and is black, with the head and anterior half of the prothorax yellow. There is a black spot over the eye, and two on the vertex. A dorsal and two lateral yellow spots are on the meso- and metathorax. Small dots are on the first three segments of the abdomen, and large patches are on the fourth and fifth segments. When young, the larva is predominantly yellow.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Triclonella pergandeella is found in the southeastern US from North Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Oklahoma southward to central Texas, the Gulf Coast states, and Florida. There is one record to as far north as the District of Columbia. We have records from all three physiographic provinces, with most coming from the Piedmont.

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
Immature 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 February through October in areas outside of North Carolina. Populations in North Carolina appear to be bivoltine, with the first brood in the spring and the second in summer.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: This species feeds on legumes such as Perplexed Tick-trefoil and Maryland Butterfly-pea that are most commonly found in rather open, sunny, and somewhat dry habitats. Typical habitats include woodland borders, roadbanks, old fields, openings in woods, powerline corridors, and open, brushy areas.

Larval Host Plants: The known hosts (Busck, 1901a; Heppner, 2003; Robinson et al, 2010) are all legumes and include Fragrant pigeonwings (Clitoria fragrans), Maryland Butterfly-pea (C. mariana), Perplexed Tick-trefoil (Desmodium perplexum), and a species of Lespedeza. As of 2022, our only documented host in North Carolina is Maryland Butterfly-pea. Triclonella pergandeella is commonly referred to as the Sweetclover Root Borer Moth, which is a misnomer since it neither bores in roots or uses sweetclovers (Melilotus spp.) as hosts. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. The larvae are leaf tiers on legumes and have been successfully reared from field collections. More information if needed on host use within the state.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Leguminous Forb and Shrublands

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4

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

Comments: This species appears to be somewhat uncommon in the state, but seems reasonably secure based on the number of site records and that fact that its host plants are rather common.

Photo Gallery for Triclonella pergandeella - Bush-clover Triclonella

Photos: 10

	Recorded by: David George, Jim Petranka on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jim Petranka on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-11 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-11 Madison Co. Comment: A larva that was inside a pair of tied leaves on Clitoria mariana.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-11 Madison Co. Comment: Tied leaves like this were common on Clitoria mariana; four had larvae and several had pupal skins inside.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2022-08-11 Madison Co. Comment: A patch of Clitoria mariana with numerous tied leaves.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-30 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-30 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: L. M. Carlson on 2019-08-09 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2017-07-22 Mecklenburg Co. Comment: