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

Dichomeris kimballi Hodges, 1986 - Kimball's Dichomeris

Dichomeris kimballiDichomeris kimballiDichomeris kimballiDichomeris kimballi
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Gelechioidea Family: GelechiidaeSubfamily: DichomeridinaeTribe: [Dichomeridini]P3 Number: 59a0532 MONA Number: 2310.10
Comments: Hodges (1986) placed Dichomeris kimballi and inversella in the Inversella Species Group, based on features of both the male and female reproductive structures
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Hodges (1986)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Dichomeris kimballi and inversella are gray species mottled with patches of darker and lighter scales. Hodges described kimballi as more "washed out", which we interpret as having a paler gray ground color, which can be described as pearly rather than ashy gray. As the most distinctive marking of this species, he described a slender dark-gray mark on the costal margin located at about 2/5 to 3/4 of the wing length; the posterior margin of this mark is rounded (Hodges, 1984). In inversella, the costal margin is usually dark gray from the base to the apex. To us, this mark can be described as a dark patch on the costa that widens for a short distance inward beyond the halfway point along the wing length. Other differences that seem to exist include more pointed wing apices in kimballi, compared to the rounded apices in inversella. In a number of specimens of kimballi, the apices are also contrastingly darker than the ground color and have either a dark terminal line or dark blotches located in that area. In inversella, the entire wing is generally darker and the apices do not contrast with the overall ground color; there may also be a series of pale spots in the terminal area of the wing in this species that are not evident in kimballi.
Forewing Length: 5.0-6.2 mm (Hodges, 1986)
Adult Structural Features: The basal segments of the maxillary palps in kimballi appear to support a less bushy, narrower fringe than is present in inversella. The scales on the wings appear to be smoother overall compared to the rougher scaling evident in specimens of inversella. The wings in inversella are more generally tightly rolled over the abdomen, giving it a more cylindrical appearance; in kimballi, the apices are spread farther apart, giving it more of a triangular appearance when seen from above.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records come from both fairly open, dry-to-xeric sites, including barrier islands and sand ridges, but also from fairly wet areas, including pond and lakeshores, and streamheads in the Fall-line Sandhills
Larval Host Plants: Host plants appear to be unknown, although Hodges speculated that oaks or hickories would be likely (Hodges, 1986). - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: 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 kimballi - Kimball's Dichomeris

Photos: 25

Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin on 2024-06-22
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-09
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-16
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-10
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-06
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2023-05-22
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2022-08-02
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2022-06-30
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-21
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-30
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-08-16
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-21
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-07-21
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-07-21
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-07-13
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-07-13
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-07-06
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-06-22
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-14
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-14
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2020-05-25
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2020-05-17
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2020-05-17
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger on 2020-05-17
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-05-02
Onslow Co.
Comment: