Moths of North Carolina
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3 NC Records

Enchrysa dissectella Zeller, 1873 - No Common Name

Enchrysa dissectella
Taxonomy
Family: GelechiidaeSubfamily: AnomologinaeP3 Number: 59a0634 MONA Number: 1721.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is a very distinctive species with a dark bronzy brown ground color and a curved orange patch on the dorsal half. The following detailed description is based on descriptions by Kearfott (1905, as Aristotelia youngella) and Forbes (1923). The head, antenna, labial palp, thorax, basal half of the forewing, abdomen and legs all have a shining iridescent green hue, but may appear darker depending on the angle of the light. The labial palps are entirely smooth, strongly divergent, and terminate above the head near the thorax. The antenna is dark brown, except for a white tip on the apical fourth. The basal half of the forewing and the outer half along the costa are dark brown to blackish-brown and overlaid with iridescent green, particularly on the basal half. The dark basal half is often outwardly margined by the black ground color owing to the absence of iridescent scales in this region. It abuts a vertical yellow to whitish line that extends across the wing. The apical half of the forewing has a conspicuous, crescent-shaped orange mark that begins at the whitish line at mid-wing. From there is progressively narrows along the dorsal margin before curving back towards the apex. The remainder of the wing is dark brown. The hindwing and cilia of both wings are dark brown.
Wingspan: 10-10.5 mm for males; 12-12.5 mm for females (Kearfott, 1905)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Enchrysa dissectella is found in eastern North America, and primarily at northern latitudes. The range extends from the New England states and adjoining areas of Canada (Ontario; Quebec; Nova Scotia) to New York, Ohio, West Virginia, and North Carolina. There is one disjunct record from British Columbia (Pohl et al. 2018). As of 2021, our records are all from Mt. Mitchell. The population there appears to be a southern disjunct, with the nearest known population from West Virginia.
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
Flight Comments: Adults have been observed from June through August, with a seasonal peak in July. As of 2021, our records are from 28 June and 26 July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The host plants have not been reported. Our populations are all from Mt. Mitchell, but the specific habitats that were used were not reported by observers.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants are unknown. - View
Observation Methods: The adults appear to be only weakly attracted to lights. They are diurnal and can be observed resting on vegetation.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S1S2
State Protection:
Comments: As of 2021, our only known records are from Mt. Mitchell where this population may be at risk from climate change.

 Photo Gallery for Enchrysa dissectella - No common name

Photos: 3

Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, L. Owenby on 2016-06-28
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, L. Owenby on 2016-06-28
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, L. Owenby on 2016-06-28
Yancey Co.
Comment: