Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFCosmopterigidae Members: Perimede Members: 39 NC Records

Perimede erransella Chambers, 1874 - Gray Perimede

Perimede erransellaPerimede erransellaPerimede erransellaPerimede erransella
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Cosmopterigidae		Subfamily:
Chrysopeleiinae		Tribe:
[Chrysopeleiini]		P3 Number:
59a0329		 MONA Number:
1623.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Hodges (1978)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Perimede species in eastern North America are very similar and are often best identified by using genitalia and other structural features. The following description is based on that of Hodges (1962b). The labial palps, antennae and thorax are all dark fuscous-brown. The forewing is also predominantly dark fuscous-brown, with four relatively large black spots that are preceded by a few white scales. These are found at one-third the wing length on the fold, at one-half the wing length on the middle of wing, at two-thirds the wing length on the middle of wing, and a relatively large one at the apex. A few white scales are often present in the apical cilia around the black spot, and a small white costal spot is often evident at three-fourths the wing length. North Carolina specimens commonly have a row of two or three small spots of white scales that extend from the apical black spot towards the tornus. The cilia are dark fuscous-brown apically and often a shade or two paler at the base. The hindwing is dark fuscous-brown, with a pale-fuscous fringe. This species usually rest in a headstand position with the rear legs hidden.

Perimede ricina is very similar and often requires dissection for a positive identification. In North Carolina specimens, P. ricina tends to be a shade lighter in overall coloration, and often has both a costal and a dorsal patch of white scales at three-fourths the wing length (versus only a costal patch for P. erransella). The former also often has a row of two or three small spots of white scales that extend from the apical black spot towards both the tornus and the costa (versus only towards the tornus in P. erransella). These features are often reduced or missing in specimens, which hampers identification based on photographs alone.
Adult Structural Features: Hodges (1962b, 1978) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia. Also, see images below for North Carolina specimens.
Genitalia and other structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: Although the larvae are known to feed on several species of hardwoods, we are unaware of any documentation of the larval life history.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Perimede erransella is found throughout much of the eastern US and in adjoining areas of southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia). In the US the range extends from Maine to southern Florida, and westward to eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. This species occurs in all three physiographic provinces of North Carolina, from barrier islands to mesic forests in the Blue Ridge.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Perimede erransellaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: As of 2025, our records extend from late-March through early-November.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are associated with deciduous forests, and primarily mesic to hydric communities. Most of our records are from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae appear to feed on the foliage of hardwood trees (Hodges (1978, 1962b; Heppner, 2007; Eiseman, 2022). The reported hosts include Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa), Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea), Black Oak (Q. velutina) and other oaks, Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) and elms (Ulmus spp.). As of 2025, we do not have any host records for North Carolina. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Perimede erransella - Gray Perimede

 40 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-11-01
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-10-17
Madison Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-10-14
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-10-12
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish, John F. Jarvis, S. L. Reeves on 2025-10-07
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish, John F. Jarvis, S. L. Reeves on 2025-10-07
Orange Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-30
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-11
Madison Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-07-22
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-06
Orange Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-14
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-20
Durham Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2023-03-26
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-11-05
Madison Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-15
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-28
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-05
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-05
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-05
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-05-29
Orange Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-05-02
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-12
Madison Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: jim Petranka on 2021-05-16
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-11-07
Orange Co.
Comment:
Perimede erransella
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-10-27
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Perimede erransella
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-10-20
Carteret Co.
Comment: