Moths of North Carolina

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Dichomeris marginella (Fabricius, 1781) - Juniper Webworm Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Dichomeridinae

P3 Number:
59a0517

MONA Number:
2282.00

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.

Species Status: This is an introduced species that is native to Europe, and is currently found in both eastern and western North America. It has likely been introduced multiple times to the US, beginning in the early 1900's (Hodges, 1986).

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

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

Technical Description, Adults: Hodges (1986)

Adult Markings: Dichomeris marginella is easily identified by the boldly-marked forewings, with each having a white, longitudinal band on the anterior and posterior margins that are separated by a broad brown band. The thorax and head are white, while the first two segments of the labial palps are light brown along the sides and whitish above, with a well-developed scale tuft. The third segment is mainly white or yellowish-white with light-brown scales on the anterior surface and towards the apex (Hodges, 1986).

Forewing Length: 5.6-8.1 mm (Hodges, 1986).

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae specialize on junipers such as Eastern Red Cedar and are univoltine. As summarized by Hodges (1986) and Eiseman (2022), the late-instar larvae overwinter and the adults emerge the following summer, typically in June and July. The females deposit eggs in the leaf axils of new growth and the first instar larvae mine one or two needles, then shift to feeding externally on the needles. They construct tubes made of silk and dead needles to use as retreats as they feed externally on adjacent needles. Branchlets are webbed together, and the webbing is expanded throughout the summer as the larvae grow. The older larvae live in communal webs that accumulate frass and dead needles. They overwinter in the webs, then resume feeding in April and May. The final instars can reach 12-15 mm in length. The head, prothoracic shield and legs are dark-brown to black, and the abdomen light brown with three darker longitudinal stripes (Langford, 1937). The larvae pupate in the webs and the adults emerge after about two weeks.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Dichomeris marginella is found in eastern North America in southern Canada (Ontario; Quebec; Nova Scotia) and in the US from Maine and New Hampshire southwestward to South Carolina and Georgia, and westward to eastern Tennessee, Missouri, western Virginia, central Kentucky, eastern Pennsylvania, northeastern Ohio and Michigan. Hodges (1986) noted that this species was introduced into California in the 1920's and is now present in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. As of 2025, we have records from all three physiographic provinces, but with recent records only from the eastern Piedmont and an adjoining area in the western Coastal Plain.

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: Adults in the eastern US typically fly from May through July. As of 2025, our records range from mid-April to mid-June.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The larvae specialize on junipers and local populations are strongly associated with sites that have the host plants. They occur in natural communities with cedars (see General Cedar Woodlands above), and also in urban environments and nurseries where ornamental junipers are grown.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are specialists on junipers, including both native and ornamental species (Forbes, 1923; Craighead et al., 1950; Maier et al., 2004; Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010; Eiseman, 2022). The native hosts in the eastern US include Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) and Eastern Red Cedar (J. virginiana). - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the webbed nests can be found on Eastern Red Cedar and other junipers.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNA SNR [SNA] GNR [S3S4]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Dichomeris marginella - Juniper Webworm Moth

Photos: 11

	Recorded by: David George on 2022-04-22 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2022-04-21 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2022-04-21 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-04-15 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-04-15 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-25 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-25 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-25 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-20 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-06-20 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Harry Wilson on 2010-05-09 Wake Co. Comment: