Moths of North Carolina
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20 NC Records

Symmetrischema striatella (Murtfeldt, 1900) - Streaked Twirler

Symmetrischema striatellaSymmetrischema striatellaSymmetrischema striatellaSymmetrischema striatella
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: GelechiidaeSubfamily: GelechiinaeTribe: GnorimoscheminiP3 Number: 59a1330 MONA Number: 2039.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Leckie and Beadle (1018)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: (Murtfeldt, 1900)Technical Description, Immature Stages: (Murtfeldt, 1900)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is based on the description by (Murtfeldt, 1900). The antenna is about three-fourths the wing length and pale with dark brown annulations. The second and third joints of the labial palp are about equal. The second joint is pale buff, and densely tufted with two darker annulations. The third joint is pale buff and largely unmarked. The head and thorax are pale buff and faintly striped with leaden gray. The forewing has rather complex patterning, with a ground that has a mixture of pale buff and reddish brown coloration, along with black dusting. The pale coloration is most prevalent along the costa, and is organized as a set of light striations elsewhere in the wing. The most prominent mark is a subcostal blackish, longitudinal line that extends from the base to the apex. Two or more finer, blackish striations or dashes are present between this and the dorsal margin. The hindwing is ashy gray and often shades to cinereous at the tip. The male has a pencii of spreading hairs from the base of the costa. The cilia are long, fine, and concolorous with the wing, and those on the forewing are crossed with a blackish Iine. The legs are shining pale buff, and more or less conspicuously mottled with leaden gray. The hind tibia has long siiken hairs, and the tarsi are blackish with pale annulations.
Wingspan: 11-13 mm (Murtfeldt, 1900)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed within the berries of nightshades. The mature larvae are about 8 mm long and rather stout. The body is pale, translucent, and greenish yellow. It has five longitudinal crimson stripes that are interrupted and irregularly margined (Murtfeldt, 1900). The lateral one is composed of a line of small spots. The head and cervical shield are dark and shining brown. There is also a broad, purplish, sub-cutaneous spot on the dorsum of the eighth body segment (Murtfeldt, 1900). Pupation occurs in or near the fruits, or sometimes in a leaf fold, and the adults emerge about 10 days later. Adults from the final seasonal brood in Missouri appear in late October or November and appear to overwinter ((Murtfeldt, 1900).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Symmetrischema striatella is found in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and North America, including California and the eastern US. In the East, the range extends from Maine to Florida, and westward to central Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois. Populations appear to be rare or uncommon throughout most of the Appalachian region. As of 2024, all but one of our records are all from the Coastal Plain and 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: Populations appear to have two or more broods in the southern portions of the range, and as few as one farther north. Adults have been found during all months of the year. As of 2024, our records are mostly from early-May through late-November, with two January and early-March records that likely reflects overwintering adults.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Eastern Black Nightshade is probably the most commonly used host in North Carolina. It grows in sunny or partially shaded habitats that are often disturbed. Examples include woodland borders, powerline corridors, infrequently mowed roadsides, and weedy fields.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed internally on the berries of nightshades (Robinson et al., 2010). Species that are used include American Black Nightshade (Solanum americanum) and European Black Nightshade (S. nigrum), as well as other nightshades that are found in California, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Records for specimens labelled as S. nigrum are now thought to include several closely related forms, including Glowing Nightshade (S.pseudogracile), Eastern Black Nightshade (S.ptycanthum) and Hairy Nightshade (S. sarrachoides; LeGrand et al., 2021). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found on nightshade fruits.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S2S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: As of 2024, we have < 10 site records for the state. We need more information on the distribution and abundance of this species before we can assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Symmetrischema striatella - Streaked Twirler

33 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-10-24
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-21
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-01
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-01-23
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-01-23
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-10-29
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-11-29
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-11
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-11-27
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-11-27
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-11-13
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-11-13
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-27
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-27
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-27
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2020-08-14
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2020-08-14
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2020-08-14
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-11-06
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-11-06
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-10-05
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-10-05
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-08-18
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-08-18
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-08-18
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-01-01
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-01-01
Guilford Co.
Comment: