Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGelechiidae Members: Dichomeris Members: 53 NC Records

Dichomeris punctidiscellus (Clemens, 1863) - Spotted Dichomeris

Dichomeris punctidiscellusDichomeris punctidiscellusDichomeris punctidiscellusDichomeris punctidiscellus
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Gelechioidea		 Family:
Gelechiidae		Subfamily:
Dichomeridinae		P3 Number:
59a0521		 MONA Number:
2283.00		 MONA Synonym:
Dichomeris punctidiscella
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Hodges (1986)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Dichomeris punctidiscellus is a relatively small Dichomeris with narrow wings, a prominent labial scale tuft that projects forward, and forewings that are marked with a series of dark-brown to blackish dots. The ground color of the forewing is variable and can range from pale yellowish-gray to relatively dark yellowish-brown (Hodges, 1986). The dark spots typically consists of a diagonal pair near the wing base, with the inner one more basal, a second diagonal pair just before the middle with the reverse pattern (outer dot more basal), and a single spot at around two-thirds the wing length that is often incorporated into a dark, broken, postmedial band. An outwardly bowed smooth or jagged subterminal band is present at around four-fifths the wing length. The area between this and the outer margin is variable in coloration and can range from being concolorous with the remainder of the wing to being heavily dusted with darker scales. A row of usually prominent dark spots begins in the subapical region of the costa, then extends along the outer margin before terminating in the sub-tornal region. Each typically has a patch of pale or whitish scales behind them on the adjoining fringe. The hindwings are fuscous and the legs are commonly dark-brown, with the last pair paler.

The outer surface of the first and second segments of the labial palp is dark grayish-brown, with the apex of the second segment white. A prominent scale tuft on the second segment projects forward, and the scale tuft, head and thorax are more-or-less concolorous with the forewing ground color. The antenna has alternating darker and lighter band, with the lighter bands concolorous with those of the forewing ground.
Forewing Length: 5.5- 7.6 mm (Hodges, 1986).
Adult Structural Features: Hodges (1986) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia. Also, see images below for North Carolina specimens.
Genitalia and other structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: As far as we are aware, the host plants and larval life history are undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Dichomeris punctidiscellus is found in southern Ontario and Quebec, and throughout most of the eastern US, from Maine southward to southern Florida, and westward to Louisiana, eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, eastern Iowa and Minnesota. This species is uncommon in the Atlantic Coastal Plain from North Carolina southward to Georgia. As of 2025, most of our records are from the Blue Ridge and eastern Piedmont, with one from the western Coastal Plain and another from the western Piedmont.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Dichomeris punctidiscellusAlamance 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: Adults have been documented from April through October in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak typically in May and June. As of 2025, we have records from early-May through early-September, with a seasonal peak also in May and June.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Most of our records are from forested habitats or semi wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants appear to be undocumented (Hodges, 1986). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and are often seen resting on vegetation and leaf litter during the day.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
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 punctidiscellus - Spotted Dichomeris

 33 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-07-22
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-06
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-06
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-05
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-05
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-05-30
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Regina Patton on 2024-05-24
Jackson Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-25
Orange Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-11
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-06
Alleghany Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-05-28
Orange Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-05-21
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-12
Durham Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-05-31
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-05-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2022-05-13
Orange Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-05
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-09-01
Orange Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-08-27
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-07-02
Durham Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-06-02
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-05-30
Madison Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-05-25
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-05-24
Orange Co.
Comment:
Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2019-06-01
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Dichomeris punctidiscellus
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2018-05-26
Buncombe Co.
Comment: