Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGelechiidae Members: Monochroa Members: 18 NC Records

Monochroa quinquepunctella (Busck, 1903) - Five-spotted Twirler

Monochroa quinquepunctellaMonochroa quinquepunctellaMonochroa quinquepunctellaMonochroa quinquepunctella
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Gelechiidae		Subfamily:
Anomologinae		P3 Number:
59a0631		 MONA Number:
1716.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD, iNat Search                                                                                 
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Monochroa quinquepunctella is found throughout most of the eastern US and adjoining areas of southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec; Nova Scotia). In the US the range extends from Maine and other New England states southwestward to northern Florida, Georgia , Alabama, and Mississippi, and westward to central Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Monochroa quinquepunctellaAlamance 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: The adults have been documented from March through October in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak typically in May and June. Northern populations appear to be univoltine, while the southernmost populations probably produce two broods annually. As of 2025 our records range from mid-March to early-November, with the flight season lasting longer in the Coastal Plain relative to those of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: The hosts are apparently undocumented. - View
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 Monochroa quinquepunctella - Five-spotted Twirler

Photos: 17
Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Michael P Morales on 2025-08-15
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Michael P Morales on 2025-08-15
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Michael P Morales on 2025-08-15
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-05-09
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2022-05-20
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-05-02
Orange Co.
Comment:
Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2021-05-22
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-06
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-11-04
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-11-04
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-07-11
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-06-30
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-03
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-03
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Monochroa quinquepunctella
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2013-09-05
Wake Co.
Comment: