Moths of North Carolina

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Dichomeris heriguronis (Matsumura, 1931) - Black-edged Dichomeris

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Gelechioidea

Family:
Gelechiidae

Subfamily:
Dichomeridinae

P3 Number:
59a0582

MONA Number:
2309.00

MONA Synonym:
Dichomeris picrocarpa

Other Common Name:
Black-edged Carbatina

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 leaf-tiers 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: Dichomeris heriguronis is an introduced species that is native to northern India, China, Korea, and Japan. Museum records suggest that it was introduced into eastern North America in the late 1920's or early 1930's in New York or New Jersey, and probably from Japan (Hodges, 1986).

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Hodges (1986)

Adult Markings: This is a distinctive Dichomeris with an orangish to orangish-brown forewing and dark-brown labial palps. The forewing has a somewhat diffuse dark-brown band in the subterminal region that is edged with a thin white line on its distal margin. A prominent orange fringe is present on the outer margin, and dark brown dusting occurs along the costa and inner margin. The dusting on the base of the inner margin continues onto the middle of the thorax and head, which are otherwise orange to brownish-orange. The labial palp is dark brown on its outer surface, with some intermixed orangish scales, while the antenna has a dark-brown scape and alternating rows of yellowish-gray and dark-gray scales along the shaft (Hodges, 1986).

Forewing Length: 6.9-8.8 mm (Hodges, 1986).

Adult Structural Features: Hodges (1986) has illustrations and descriptions of the male and female genitalia. Also, see below.

Genitalia and other structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae are leaftiers that feed on the leaves of cherries, peaches and other Prunus species. Hodges (1986) presented a general summary of the life cycle based on studies in Japan and Korea in which the adults emerge in early summer, followed by the females mating and laying eggs on the stems or leaves of the host. The larvae hatch in late-summer and enter diapause, then overwinter and emerge from diapause the following spring. Most larval growth occurs during the spring and early summer, followed by pupation in a leaf curl on the host plant. The later instars have a black head and prothoracic shield. The remainder of the thorax and abdomen is a light, translucent, yellowish-green color with a transverse row of black dots of the thoracic plates and longitudinal rows of small dots around the spiracles and body hairs.

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Since being introduced in the late 1920's or early 1930's into New York or New Jersey, D. heriguronis has spread throughout a substantial portion of the eastern US and adjoining areas of southern Canada, including Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia,New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. As of 2025, it occurs in the US from Maine westward through the Great Lakes region to northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, and southward to Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and northern Georgia. As of 2025, our records are all from the Blue Ridge and 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
Flight Comments: The adults have been observed from May through September in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak typically in June and July. As of 2025, our records are from early-May through early-August, with Piedmont populations flying about three weeks earlier than those in the Blue Ridge.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Local populations are generally found in areas where either ornamental or native cherries and their relatives such as peaches are present.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on a variety of Prunus species, and there are BugGuide records for Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium), Fire Cherry (P. pensylvanica), and Peach (P. persica). There are also reports from oak and pine needing verification (Hodges, 1986; Park et al., 2022). - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found in folded or tied leaves of cherries and peaches.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3S4]

State Protection:

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Dichomeris heriguronis - Black-edged Dichomeris

Photos: 12

	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-07-03 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-07-03 Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-06-03 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-08-08 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-08-08 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-10 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2023-05-05 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2020-05-17 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-05-21 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-05-21 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2018-05-24 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2017-07-17 Cabarrus Co. Comment: