Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGelechiidae Members: Dichomeris Members: 3 NC Records

Dichomeris caia Hodges, 1986 - No Common Name

Dichomeris caia
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Gelechiidae		Subfamily:
Dichomeridinae		P3 Number:
59a0526		 MONA Number:
2279.10
Comments: Dichomeris is a large genus with several hundred species that occur throughout the world. Hodges (1986) recognized 74 species in North America north of Mexico, with 19 species groups. Most are leaftiers and they use a taxonomically diverse array of plant hosts, including members of 18 families of plants in North America. As of 2025, North Carolina has 35 documented species, and at least one undescribed species from the Sandhills.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Hodges (1986)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Dichomeris caia is a rather nondescript species that has a medium-brown to dark-brown forewing that lacks any conspicuous markings. The fringe is a slightly lighter shade, and the hindwing is medium to light-brown with a well-developed lighter fringe. The labial palp is dark brown and has a well-developed scale tuft. The vertex and occiput are yellowish-gray, and the antenna has alternating yellowish-gray and grayish-brown rings (Hodges, 1986). This species is best confirmed using genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Immatures and Development: The immature stages appear to be undocumented (Hodges, 1986).
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This is a primarily northern species whose range extends south to the Southern Appalachians. Hodges (1986) reported specimens that he identified from genitalia from Nova Scotia, Ontario, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and North Carolina. As of 2025, all of our records are from the southern Blue Ridge in Macon and Jackson counties.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Dichomeris caiaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Flight Comments: Specimens examined by Hodges (1986) were collected from May through September. As of 2025, all of our records are from mid-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: As of 2025, the host plants used by the larvae have not been reported (Hodges, 1986). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S1S2
State Protection:
Comments: