Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Sinoe Members:	17 NC Records

Sinoe chambersi Lee, 2012 - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Gelechiinae

P3 Number:
59a0694.6

MONA Number:
1834.10

Comments: Sinoe was traditionally treated as a monotypic genus that is restricted to the eastern US. It has since been split into four species. In a revision of the genus, Lee and Brown (2012) redescribed S. robiniella and recognized two additional species (S. chambersi; S. kwakae) that occur in North Carolina.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Lee and Brown (2012)

Adult Markings: The following is based on the description in Lee and Brown (2012). The head is white with a mixture with gray and brown scales, while the thorax is gray mixed with white scales. The antenna is brownish gray and about two-thirds the length of the forewing. On each flagellomere the basal row of scales is dark brown and the apical row gray. On the labial palp, the outer side of the second segment is dark brown, except for a white apex in some individuals, while the inner side is white. The third segment is white with two black annuli. The ground color of the forewing varies from brown to gray. The costa has two conspicuous brownish black spots at one-third and two-thirds the wing length. Some specimens have a third dark brown spot on near base. The subbasal fascia is dark brown and extends from the dorsum obliquely toward the first costal blotch, but ends at about the middle of the wing. A patch of brown scales (basal patch) extends from the fascia to the base of the wing. The discal cell has a dark brown longitudinal median streak that is followed by a second streak posteriorly. The preterminal area has a dark brown spot beyond the discal cell. The hindwing is light brown to gray with gray fringe.

This species is similar to S. robiniella and S. kwakae and is best separated by phenology and patterning. Sinoe chambersi is active in winter through early spring (typically Jan-March), has dark scaling that extends from the fascia to the wing base, and typically has two dark, longitudinal streaks in the middle of the wing. In contrast, S. robiniella flies later in the year (with perhaps a small period of overlap in early April in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain), has dark scaling that does not extend from the fascia all the way to the wing base, and has the discal streak reduced to a spot. Sinoe kwakae is similar to S. chambersi, but has dark scaling that does not extend from the fascia all the way to the wing base. This is a more southern form that flies year-round in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and other southern locales.

Wingspan: 11.4-11.6 mm (Lee and Brown, 2012).

Adult Structural Features: Lee and Brown (2012) provide descriptions and illustrations of our three native Sinoe species. Diagnostic features for S. chambersi for the male genitalia are the uncus that is squared apically, the valva with the costal part present and saccular part absent, and the vinculum that projects posteriorly as a pair of spatulate processes. The female genitalia have a cone-shaped sterigma surrounding the ostium bursae. On males the hair pencils and sex scales are also helpful in identifying Sinoe species. Both of these are absent on S. robiniella. On S. kwakae the male lacks a hair pencil at the base of the hindwing, and has yellowish orange sex scales on the anal margin from the base to CuA2, on the cubital vein from near the base to the margin, and on the costal margin. On Sinoe chambersi, the hair pencil is present, and a narrow line of yellowish orange sex scales is present on the anal margin from the base to CuA.

Genitalia and other structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Nothing is known about the host plants or larval ecology of this species.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Sinoe chambersi is found in southern Canada from Alberta to Quebec, and in the eastern US. A disjunct population in California may be an introduction (Lee and Brown, 2012). In the eastern US, it ranges from Pennsylvania westward to Michigan and Indiana, and southward to Tennessee, North Carolina, and Mississippi. As of 2022, our records are from the Coastal Plain and eastern 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: This is an early season species. Lee and Brown (2012) reported the flight season to be from late January through March in southern latitudes, and March through June in northern latitudes such as Canada. As of 2022, our few records are from late January to late March.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The preferred habitats are poorly documented. As of 2022, our three records are from a second growth hardwood forest, a partially wooded residential neighborhood, and a maritime shrub/forest community.

Larval Host Plants: The hosts are unknown. Lee and Brown (2012) noted that the adults are typically active before the spring leaf-out, which suggests that this species may not be a leaftier on woody legumes as is S. robiniella. - View

Observation Methods: All records to date are for adults that were attracted to lights. The larval ecology is unknown, so we encourage naturalists to search for the larvae and document the life history.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU

State Protection:

Comments: We currently do not have sufficient information on the distribution and abundance of populations within the state to assess the conservation status of this species.

Photo Gallery for Sinoe chambersi - None

Photos: 27

	Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2026-03-05 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2026-03-04 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2026-03-04 Madison Co. Comment: Specimen was dissected.		Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2026-02-19 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2026-02-19 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-04 Madison Co. Comment: Male (dissected).		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-04 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2025-02-04 Orange Co. Comment: Species verified by genitalia.		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2025-02-04 Orange Co. Comment: Species verified by genitalia.
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2025-02-04 Orange Co. Comment: Male genitalia by Jim Petranka.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-08 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-03-30 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-03-30 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-03-05 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-03-05 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-03-05 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-03-05 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-03-04 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-03-23 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-03-23 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-03-23 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-01-23 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-01-23 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J. B. Sullivan on 2017-02-22 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2011-03-05 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2011-03-05 Wake Co. Comment: