Moths of North Carolina
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Significant Contributors
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ACROLEPIIDAE-
ADELIDAE-
AMPHISBATIDAE-
AUTOSTICHIDAE-
BATRACHEDRIDAE-
BEDELLIIDAE-
BLASTOBASIDAE-
BOMBYCIDAE-
BUCCULATRICIDAE-
CARPOSINIDAE-
CHOREUTIDAE-
COLEOPHORIDAE-
COSMOPTERIGIDAE-
COSSIDAE-
CRAMBIDAE-
DEPRESSARIIDAE-
DREPANIDAE-
ELACHISTIDAE-
EPERMENIIDAE-
EPIPYROPIDAE-
EREBIDAE-Erebid Moths
ERIOCRANIIDAE-
EUTELIIDAE-
GALACTICIDAE-
GELECHIIDAE-
GEOMETRIDAE-
GLYPHIDOCERIDAE-
GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE-
GRACILLARIIDAE-
HELIOZELIDAE-
HEPIALIDAE-
HYBLAEIDAE-
INCURVARIIDAE-
LASIOCAMPIDAE-
LECITHOCERIDAE-Long-horned Moths
LIMACODIDAE-
LYONETIIDAE-
MEGALOPYGIDAE-Flannel Moths
MICROPTERIGIDAE-
MIMALLONIDAE-
MOMPHIDAE-Mompha Moths
NEPTICULIDAE-
NOCTUIDAE-Owlet Moths
NOLIDAE-
NOTODONTIDAE-
OECOPHORIDAE-
OPOSTEGIDAE-
PELEOPODIDAE-
PLUTELLIDAE-
PRODOXIDAE-
PSYCHIDAE-Bagworm Moths
PTEROPHORIDAE-
PYRALIDAE-
SATURNIIDAE-Saturniids
SCHRECKENSTEINIIDAE-
SESIIDAE-
SPHINGIDAE-Sphinx Moths
THYATIRIDAE-
THYRIDIDAE-
TINEIDAE-
TISCHERIIDAE-
TORTRICIDAE-
URANIIDAE-
URODIDAE-
XYLORYCTIDAE-
YPONOMEUTIDAE-
YPSOLOPHIDAE-
ZYGAENIDAE-
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Gelechiidae Members:
Agnippe prunifoliella
Anacampsini new genus new species
Anacampsis agrimoniella
Anacampsis conclusella
Anacampsis consonella
Anacampsis coverdalella
Anacampsis fragariella
Anacampsis levipedella
Anacampsis lupinella
Anacampsis New Species one
Anacampsis rhoifructella
Anacampsis unidentified species
Anarsia lineatella
Arcutelphusa talladega
Aristotelia callirrhoda
Aristotelia fungivorella
Aristotelia isopelta
Aristotelia lespedezae
Aristotelia monilella
Aristotelia pudibundella
Aristotelia roseosuffusella
Aristotelia rubidella
Aristotelia unidentified species
Aroga argutiola
Aroga compositella
Aroga epigaeella
Aroga trialbamaculella
Aroga trialbamaculella complex
Aroga unidentified species
Arogalea cristifasciella
Battaristis concinnusella
Battaristis new species
Battaristis nigratomella
Battaristis unidentified species
Battaristis vittella
Besciva n. sp.
Caryocolum pullatella
Chionodes adamas
Chionodes baro
Chionodes bicostomaculella
Chionodes cacula
Chionodes continuella
Chionodes discoocellella
Chionodes fondella
Chionodes formosella
Chionodes fuscomaculella
Chionodes hibiscella
Chionodes imber
Chionodes lactans
Chionodes mediofuscella
Chionodes new species 2
Chionodes obscurusella
Chionodes pereyra
Chionodes pseudofondella
Chionodes rabula
Chionodes rectifex
Chionodes sevir
Chionodes soter
Chionodes suasor
Chionodes tarmes
Chionodes thoraceochrella
Chionodes unidentified species
Coleotechnites albicostata
Coleotechnites apicitripunctella
Coleotechnites atrupictella
Coleotechnites canusella
Coleotechnites carbonaria
Coleotechnites citriella
Coleotechnites coniferella
Coleotechnites florae
Coleotechnites macleodi
Coleotechnites new species
Coleotechnites obliquistrigella
Coleotechnites piceaella
Coleotechnites quercivorella
Coleotechnites unidentified species
Coleotechnites variiella
Deltophora sella
Dichomeris aglaia
Dichomeris agonia
Dichomeris bilobella
Dichomeris bipunctellus
Dichomeris bolize
Dichomeris caia
Dichomeris citrifoliella
Dichomeris costarufoella
Dichomeris crepida
Dichomeris fistuca
Dichomeris flavocostella
Dichomeris furia
Dichomeris georgiella
Dichomeris glenni
Dichomeris heriguronis
Dichomeris inserrata
Dichomeris inversella
Dichomeris juncidella
Dichomeris kimballi
Dichomeris laetitia
Dichomeris ligulella
Dichomeris marginella
Dichomeris nenia
Dichomeris new species 2
Dichomeris new species 4
Dichomeris nonstrigella
Dichomeris ochripalpella
Dichomeris offula
Dichomeris pelta
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Dichomeris punctipennella
Dichomeris setosella
Dichomeris siren
Dichomeris unidentified species
Dichomeris vacciniella
Dichomeris ventrellus
Dichomeris xanthoa
Enchrysa dissectella
Exoteleia anomala
Exoteleia pinifoliella complex
Fascista bimaculella
Fascista cercerisella
Fascista quinella
Filatima ornatifimbriella
Filatima persicaeella
Filatima pseudacaciella
Filatima serotinella
Filatima unidentified species
Filatima xanthuris
Frumenta nundinella
Gelechia albisparsella
Gelechiidae unidentified species
Glauce pectenalaeella
Gnorimoschema gallaeasterella
Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis
Gnorimoschema terracottella
Gnorimoschema unidentified species
Helcystogramma hystricella
Helcystogramma melanocarpa
Helcystogramma melantherella
Holophysis emblemella
Isophrictis anteliella
Isophrictis rudbeckiella
Isophrictis unidentified species
Keiferia inconspicuella
Keiferia unidentified species
Mesophleps adustipennis
Metzneria lappella
Monochroa disconotella
Monochroa gilvolinella
Monochroa monactis
Monochroa pullusella
Monochroa quinquepunctella
Monochroa unidentified species
Neotelphusa sequax
Phthorimaea operculella
Polyhymno luteostrigella
Prostomeus brunneus
Pseudochelaria pennsylvanica
Pseudochelaria walsinghami
Pseudotelphusa fuscopunctella
Pseudotelphusa palliderosacella
Pseudotelphusa quercinigracella
Pseudotelphusa unidentified species
Pubitelphusa latifasciella
Sinoe chambersi
Sinoe kwakae
Sinoe robiniella
Sinoe unidentified species
Sitotroga cerealella
Stegasta bosqueella
Stereomita andropogonis
Strobisia iridipennella
Symmetrischema capsica
Symmetrischema pallidochrella
Symmetrischema striatella
Symmetrischema unidentified species
Taygete attributella
Taygete gallaegenitella
Telphusa longifasciella
Telphusa perspicua
Theisoa constrictella
Trypanisma prudens
Untomia albistrigella
Xenolechia aethiops
Theisoa
Members:
Theisoa constrictella
27 NC Records
Theisoa constrictella
(Zeller, 1873) - No Common Name
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea
Family:
Gelechiidae
Subfamily:
Gelechiinae
Tribe:
Anomologini
P3 Number:
420635.00
MONA Number:
1722.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Leckie and Beadle (2018)
Online Photographs:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
,
BOLD
Technical Description, Adults:
Chambers (1874); Forbes (1923)
Technical Description, Immature Stages:
Heinrich (1920)
Adult Markings:
This is a distinctive moth that has the dark basal third of the wing contrasting with a whitish antemedial line. Other distinctive marks include a black discal dot, and a black costal spot at two-thirds that abuts a pale costal spot. The following detailed description is based on those of Chambers (1874, p. 76) and Forbes (1923). The labial palp is dull white to light tan and recurved. The third segment is much longer than the second, and the tip extends nearly to the thorax. The face is white, but becomes more ocherous towards the vertex. The antenna is white to pale with dark brown annulations. The thorax and basal third of the forewing are light wood brown to somewhat darker, and contrast with the lighter two-thirds of the wing. The dark basal third abuts a pale whitish antemedial line that is lined internally with black scales. The line is broadly wavy and turns inward on the costal and dorsal margins. It is followed by a paler saffron yellow shade that fills much of the remainder of the wing, and becomes darker towards the apex. A black discal dot is often evident at about two-thirds the wing length. A blackish costal spot is present at about two-thirds that is followed by a pale spot that sometimes extends obliquely to form a short fascia. The fringe is dusky yellowish. The hindwing and cilia are light yellowish-brown.
Immatures and Development:
The larvae feed on the undersides of elms. Each larva constructs a web that is typically made between two lateral veins (Heinrich, 1920). The silk webbing draws the leaf together slightly and the larva feeds on the epidermis within. It also constructed a tube beneath the webbing that is composed of silk and frass that it uses as a shelter when not feeding. Larvae that Heinrich (1920) collected in September in Virginia pupated in October, then overwintered in the pupal stage. The adults emerged the following July. Pupation occurs in a thin, oval, silken cocoon (Forbes, 1923). The mature larva is 6.5-7.0 mm long with a whitish body that has a slight pinkish tinge near the dorsum (Heinrich, 1920). The head is yellowish, the thoracic and anal shields are very pale yellow, and the body tubercles are brown.
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
Theisoa constrictella
is found in eastern North America from New Hampshire, Vermont and adjoining areas of southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec) southward to Florida, and westward to central Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois. Populations appear to be uncommon in the Atlantic Coastal Plain from Virginia south to Georgia. As of 2023, we have a single record from the Blue Ridge, with all others 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
Flight Comments:
Adults have been observed from March through September in areas outside of North Carolina. Populations appear to be bimodal in southern populations, with the first brood in March through May, and the second in July through September. Populations in North Carolina also appears to be bivoltine, with the first seasonal peak in April and May, and the second in July and August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Theisoa constrictella
uses elms as hosts. The exact species are poorly documented other than American Elm, which is found in bottomlands, river floodplains, and on the lower, gentler slopes of sites with rich, circumneutral soils.
Larval Host Plants:
American Elm (
Ulmus americana
) is the only documented host (Robinson et al., 2010), but other elms are likely used. -
View
Observation Methods:
The adults are attracted to lights. Host use needs to be better documented, so we encourage naturalists to search for the larvae on elms.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for
Rich Wet Hardwood Forests
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 relatively secure within the Piedmont, but more information is needed on host use, distribution and abundance before we can accurately assess its conservation status. The historical decline of American Elm may have adversely impacted this species.
Photo Gallery for
Theisoa constrictella
- No common name
Photos: 19
Recorded by: John Petranka, David George on 2023-08-05
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-26
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-19
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-31
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-12
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-20
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-08-18
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-07-24
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-07-18
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-05
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-05-02
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-16
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-16
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2020-04-24
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2016-05-28
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2014-08-04
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2013-08-13
Wake Co.
Comment: