Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Gelechiidae Members:	Dichomeris Members:	61 NC Records

Dichomeris ventrellus (Fitch, 1854) - No Common Name

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Dichomeridinae

P3 Number:
59a0533

MONA Number:
2287.00

MONA Synonym:
Dichomeris ventrella

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Hodges (1986).

Adult Markings: Dichomeris ventrellus has a highly flattened body, with the labial palps, head, thorax and forewing more-or-less unicolorous and typically with a ground color that is yellowish-brown to reddish-brown. The thorax has three small dark-brown to blackish spots on the posterior margin – one at the apex, and the other two displaced to the sides. The forewing has numerous dark flecks, and there is a series of parallel, dark, antemedial, median, and postmedial (discal) dots. These sometimes run together into three diffuse darker bands (Forbes, 1923; Hodges, 1986). When paired, the dot closer to the inner margin is displaced more basally relative to the other spot. The median pair is margined with white scales on the distal margin, while the post-medial dot is margined with white scales on the proximal margin. The antemedial dots are often missing and represented as part of a diffuse line, while the postmedial typically consists of a single dot. The costal edge often has a pinkish margin, and there is a line of small dark dots that extend from the preapical region of the costa, backwards along the outer margin, then into the pre-tornal region of the inner margin. The hindwing is dark yellowish-gray and the legs are predominately dark above (Hodges, 1986).

Dichomeris ventrellus is often confused with D. georgiella. Hodges (1986) noted that the dark spots of D. ventrellus are usually well-defined, while those of D. georgiella are not and are often missing. In addition, D. georgiella usually has a line of pale yellowish-gray scales on the fold of the forewing (see illustration above), and has the dorsal surface of the prothoracic tarsus blotched and with pale yellowish gray on the first two or three segments. In contrast, D. ventrellus lacks pale scales on the fold and has the first three segments of the tarsus dark brown. If needed, these two species can be easily distinguished using the male genitalia. Dichomeris ventrellus might also be confused with D. vacciniella, but in the latter the head and labial palps are darker than the thorax. Dichomeris vacciniella also usually has a forewing that is heavily dusted with dark scales in the subterminal region.

Wingspan: 7.1-10.3 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: The larvae are leafrollers on hardwood trees and shrubs. Hodges (1986) reported that this species is univoltine and that larvae are present in leaf rolls during late-spring through early-summer. Pupation occurs in the leaf roll, with the pupal stage lasting about two weeks. These observations likely apply to northern populations, since southern ones appear to have two or more generations per year. Final-instar larvae that George Smiley found in Texas (BugGuide) had an amber-colored head and prothoracic shield, with the mesothorax, metathorax, and abdomen blackish-green with whitish, irregular, longitudinal stripes. The mesothorax, metathorax had a transverse row of blackish spots that were encircled with whitish scales, and the prothorax had a transverse white line on its posterior margin. Early instars (BOLD) are similar, but typically darker, and often with a black head and prothoracic shield (see BOLD specimens).

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Dichomeris ventrellus is widely distributed across most of the eastern US and in adjoining areas of southern Canada (Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec). The range in the US extends from Maine southward to central Florida and westward to central and southern Texas, Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin. As of 2025, our records are from all three physiographic provinces, but with the great majority from the Blue Ridge and eastern 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
Immature 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 documented during every month of the year in Florida and during all but the coldest months in Alabama and Mississippi. Farther north they mostly fly from March through August. As of 2025, our records extend from mid-March through mid-December. Hodge (1986) reported that this species is univoltine, but that was likely based on studies of northern populations. Our phenology graphs suggest that there can be two to three broods per year in North Carolina.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are leaf-rollers of several species of hardwood trees and shrubs. Hodges (1986) noted that D. ventrellus and D. georgiella have been misidentified frequently and cautioned about citing rearing records from the literature when voucher specimens are not present. He reported this species to use birch (Betula), ironwood (Ostrya), chestnut (Castanea), hazel (Corylus), hickories (Carya), and oaks (Quercus). In North Carolina, we have reared a larva from a leaf-roll on hickory. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and will come to sugar bait.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S3S4

State Protection:

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Dichomeris ventrellus - None

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-11-05 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-20 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-20 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-28 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-13 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-12-17 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-31 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-06-11 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-06-11 Durham Co. Comment: A pupa was within this rolled Hickory leaf; adult emerged on 2024-06-11 (see companion photo of the adult).
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-05-02 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-19 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-02 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-01 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-10-28 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-29 Harnett Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-29 Harnett Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-23 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-24 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-03-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-10-24 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-10 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-06-21 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2021-09-14 Ashe Co. Comment: