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 rhoifructella
Anacampsis unidentified species
Anarsia lineatella
Aristotelia callirrhoda
Aristotelia fungivorella
Aristotelia isopelta
Aristotelia lespedezae
Aristotelia monilella
Aristotelia pudibundella
Aristotelia roseosuffusella
Aristotelia rubidella
Aristotelia unidentified species
Aroga argutiola
Aroga compositella
Aroga trialbamaculella
Aroga trialbamaculella complex
Aroga unidentified species
Arogalea cristifasciella
Battaristis concinusella
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 obscurusella
Chionodes pereyra
Chionodes pseudofondella
Chionodes rabula
Chionodes rectifex
Chionodes sevir
Chionodes soter
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 nonstrigella
Dichomeris ochripalpella
Dichomeris offula
Dichomeris pelta
Dichomeris punctidiscella
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 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 lavernella
Symmetrischema striatella
Symmetrischema unidentified species
Taygete attributella
Taygete gallaegenitella
Telphusa longifasciella
Telphusa perspicua
Theisoa constrictella
Trypanisma prudens
Untomia albistrigella
Xenolechia aethiops
Dichomeris
Members:
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 nonstrigella
Dichomeris ochripalpella
Dichomeris offula
Dichomeris pelta
Dichomeris punctidiscella
Dichomeris punctipennella
Dichomeris setosella
Dichomeris siren
Dichomeris unidentified species
Dichomeris vacciniella
Dichomeris ventrellus
Dichomeris xanthoa
123 NC Records
Dichomeris ligulella
Hübner, 1818 - Palmerworm Moth
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea
Family:
Gelechiidae
Subfamily:
Dichomeridinae
Tribe:
[Dichomeridini]
P3 Number:
420510.00
MONA Number:
2281.00
Species Status:
The common name 'palmerworm' apparently originated after a massive outbreak of this species in 1791 in New England (Slingerland (1901); Chapman and Lienk (1971). Palmer mean 'wanderer' and referred to pilgrims who visited the Holy Land and brought back a palm frond as proof of their journey.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)
Online Photographs:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
,
BOLD
Technical Description, Adults:
Hodges (1986)
Technical Description, Immature Stages:
Chapman and Lienk (1971)
Adult Markings:
Dichomeris ligulella
is rather easily recognized by its color patterning, elongated and narrow wings, and labial palps with a prominent scale tuft and a slender, upright third segment that curves rearward and tapers to an acute apex. The adults have two color morphs that occur in both sexes. The first varies from rather uniformly light brown to light grayish, and has varying degrees of scattered darker flecking. The forewing of fresh specimens has four dark spots on the dorsal half of the wing that include a pair just before and beyond the middle. In the proximal pair the spot closest to the inner margin is slightly posterior to the other spot, while the reverse occurs for the distal pair beyond the middle. A row of dark spots is also present at the wing tip that begins in the subapical area and continues along the termen. The second color morph has a conspicuous dark brown to brownish-black longitudinal band that extends along the dorsal half from the wing base to the wing tip. The band tends to be somewhat jagged on the proximal half.
Adult ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development:
The larvae feed on a variety of hardwoods. The following life history account is mostly based on studies by Slingerland (1901) and Chapman and Lienk (1971) in New York where populations are univoltine. The adults overwinter and the females lay eggs singly on the host plants after the spring leaf-out. The larvae skeletonize leaf tissues and feed on developing fruits. They sometimes feed openly on leaves, but commonly form feeding shelters by either binding young leaves together at shoot tips, or rolling or folding portions of individual leaves. They will also occasionally feed on apple fruits and the galls of oaks (Chapman and Lienk, 1971). If disturbed, they often will drop from the leaves on silken threads where they remain suspended in the air, then return to feeding sites after a few hours. The larvae take around 4-8 weeks to reach the final instar, then pupate within folded leaves or other feeding sites. The adults emerge after about 10 days and remain in hiding places through the fall and winter months. Populations in most areas of the range appear to be univoltine.
The mature larvae are 10-15 mm long and have a pale yellowish-green abdomen with three darker olivaceous longitudinal stripes. One is mid-dorsal and relatively narrow, and the others wider and dorsolateral (Chapman and Lienk, 1971). The mid-dorsal stripe is sometimes fragmented, and all three stripes may fade posteriorly. The head is amber-colored and the prothoracic shield is dull green with darker coloration along the lateral and posterior margins that often produce two black U-shaped marks.
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
Dichomeris ligulella
is a common species that is found throughout most of the eastern US and adjoining areas on southern Canada (Saskatchewan eastward to Nova Scotia). Isolated records are also known from British Columbia and Wyoming. In the eastern US the range extends from Maine to southern Florida, and westward to central Texas, central Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, eastern Nebraska, Minnesota, and northeastern North Dakota. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina, from barrier islands to higher elevation slopes in the Blue Ridge.
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:
The adults have been found in every month of the year in different areas of the range. Populations in most areas appear to be univoltine, with the adults surviving in some cases for 9-10 months before breeding and laying eggs in the spring and early summer. As of 2023 we have records for all but the coldest months of the year, with the overwintering adults sometimes appearing at lights on warm winter nights.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Our records come from a wide range of hardwood-containing habitats, including maritime forests, bottomland forests, and mesic slopes. The majority come from semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants:
The larvae feed on a wide range of hardwood species (Chapman and Lienk, 1971; Craighead et al., 1950; Prentice, 1966; Covell, 1984; Hodges, 1986; Linit et al., 1986; Godfrey et al., 1987; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010; Marquis et al., 2019). The reported hosts include Silver Maple (
Acer saccharinum
), Sugar Maple (
A. saccharum
), Paper Birch (
Betula papyrifera
), Shagbark Hickory (
Carya ovata
), American Chestnut (
Castanea dentata
), hackberries (
Celtis
), hazelnuts (
Corylus
), Quince (
Cydonia oblonga
), American Witch-hazel (
Hamamelis virginiana
), Black Walnut (
Juglans nigra
), Sweet Crabapple (
Malus coronaria
), Common Apple (
M. domestica
), Sourwood (
Oxydendrum arboreum
), Bigtooth Aspen (
Populus grandidentata
), Quaking Aspen (
P. tremuloides
), American Plum (
Prunus americana
), pears (
Pyrus
), White Oak (
Quercus alba
), Scarlet Oak (
Q. coccinea
), Shingle Oak (
Q. imbricaria
), Bur Oak (
Q. macrocarpa
), Chinquapin Oak (
Q. muehlenbergii
), Northern Red Oak (
Q. rubra
), Post Oak (
Q. stellata
), Black Oak (
Q. velutina
),
Rhododendron
, goldenrods (
Solidago
), American Basswood (
Tilia americana
) and Northern Highbush Blueberry (
Vaccinium corymbosum
).
Observation Methods:
The adults are attracted to lights. More information is needed on host use in North Carolina.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for
General Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
GNR S5
State Protection:
Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:
This is a very common and widespread polyphagous species that appears to be secure within the state.
Photo Gallery for
Dichomeris ligulella
- Palmerworm Moth
115 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Recorded by: John Petranka and Jim Petranka on 2023-05-18
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-29
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-28
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-19
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B bockhahn on 2023-04-05
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-03-27
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-03-07
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-02-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-11-05
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-11-01
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-11-01
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-10-07
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2022-05-20
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-04-12
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-03-30
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-03-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-03-18
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell & Simpson Eason on 2022-03-06
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-02-24
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-02-22
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-12-28
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2021-12-27
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-12-25
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-12-16
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-12-12
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-11-17
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-11-09
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-10-19
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-10-19
Buncombe Co.
Comment: