Moths of North Carolina
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Aristotelia Members:
5 NC Records

Aristotelia pudibundella (Zeller, 1873) - No Common Name

Aristotelia pudibundella
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: GelechiidaeSubfamily: AnomologinaeP3 Number: 59a0667 MONA Number: 1756.00
Comments: The genus Aristotelia contains over 150 species of small moths that are found worldwide, with around 34 species in North America.
Species Status: There has been much confusion about the actual description of this species. Forbes (1932) examined the specimens that Zeller (1873) used in his original description and they were a mixture of what he calls A. pudibundella (based on Texas material where specimens are brown with no reddish coloration) and A. rubidella. Forbes (1932) also noted that his description of A. pudibundella in his 1923 monograph is inaccurate and should not be used.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: In this species the third segment of the labial palp is only slightly longer than the second segment and is white with three black bands. The antenna has alternating dark and light annulations that in some specimens can be rather obscure. The forewing is somewhat evenly stippled with fuscous to produce and overall dull ground color that is overlain with three blackish bars. These include a relatively narrow bar near the base that slants posteriorly and terminates at about two-thirds the wing depth, a relatively wide bar at around one-third that extends from the costa obliquely outward and terminates at about the same point as the first, and a somewhat triangular costal patch at around three-fourths the wing length that terminates near the middle of the wing. The relatively wide bar at one-third often has a pronounced hook that projects towards the costal patch.

Three rather poorly defined whitish marks are present on the apical third on the wing, one or more of which may be missing or poorly represented. These include a pair of dull whitish costal and dorsal marks immediately behind the dark costal mark, and a dull white spot at the wing tip. Darker scales generally fill in between these. The terminal fringe is light gray with a darker marginal line near the base, and often a second less defined band in the subterminal region of the fringe. The dorsal margin has yellowish to rusty or reddish brown coloration that is most concentrated where it adjoins the darker bars and costal patch. In some specimens a pinkish suffusion is evident in one or more of the whitish marks in the subapical region, along the dorsal margin, and on the forelegs. The hindwings are uniformly grayish to light brown. This species most closely resembles A. rubidella and is most easily distinguished by the antenna, which in the latter species has a series of five well-spaced white spots or annuli on the apical third.
Wingspan: 11 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Structural photos
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: Robinson et al. (2010) list apple as a host plant, and there is a BugGuide record for a larva on Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: [SR]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S1S3
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Aristotelia pudibundella - No common name

Photos: 1

Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2019-05-14
Carteret Co.
Comment: Verified by dissection.