Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
« »
478 https://bugguide.net/node/view/63644
View PDFTortricidae Members:
Hedya Members:
5 NC Records

Hedya chionosema (Zeller, 1875) - White-spotted Hedya

Hedya chionosema
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Tortricoidea		 Family:
Tortricidae		Subfamily:
Olethreutinae		Tribe:
Olethreutini		P3 Number:
51a0637		 MONA Number:
2863.00
Identification 807 MPG, Bugguide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD | 63644
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Immature Stages: Chapman and Lienk (1971)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Hedya chionosema is easily distinguished by its overall grayish forewing and large, white costal patch. The forewing has a gray ground color that often has fine, dark striations within, and four darker-gray fasciae or bands. These include, 1) a sub-basal band that extends from the costa and terminates before reaching the inner margin, 2) a complete medial fascia that adjoins a large, white, costal patch just beyond the middle, 3) a subtornal band that terminates near the middle of the wing, and 4) a thin postmedial bar that extends from near the tornus towards the posterior end of the white patch. The costal patch is more-or-less semicircular and usually has a broad zone of blackish dusting around its margin, while the apex has a dark spot. The palps and head often have a reddish tinge to them, while the thorax is marked with light-gray and dark-gray transverse lines. The thoracic tuft varies from dark gray to blackish.
Wingspan: 14.5-18.0 mm (Chapman and Lienk, 1971).
Forewing Length: 6.5-8.5 mm (Gilligan et al., 2008).
Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) has illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on the leaves and young buds of members of the Rosaceae, such as apples, hawthorns and crabapples. Chapman and Lienk (1971) noted that the larvae feed in a nest of tied leaves and overwinter in a silk shelter on the tree. Feeding resumes in the spring on new buds and leaves, and pupation occurs in a folded and tightly bound edge of a leaf. The pupal stage lasts around 8-9 days. The larva is bright yellowish-green throughout, including the head and thorax, and has two conspicuous black dots on each side of the prothorax.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Hedya chionosema is endemic to eastern North America where the primary range includes southern Canada (Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia), and portions of the US from Maine and other New England states southward to Maryland and West Virginia, and westward to eastern Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. A few scattered records are also known from western North Carolina, Tennessee, central Georgia, northern Florida, central Louisiana, eastern Oklahoma and Missouri.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Hedya chionosema
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 April through August in different areas of the range, with peak seasonal activity commonly in June and July. As of 2024, our records range from early-June through mid-July.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are often found in forested habitats, along forest edges, or in fragmented landscapes such as semi-wooded residential neighborhoods.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae appear to mostly specialize on members of the Rosaceae (Heinrich 1926; MacKay 1959; Prentice, 1965; Chapman and Lienk 1971; Godfrey et al. 1987; Brown et al., 2008; Robinson et al., 2010). The reported hosts include serviceberry (Amelanchier), hawthorn (Crataegus), Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria), Apple (M. domestica), European pear (Pyrus communis), Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) and Mountain-ash (Sorbus). The use of an oak seems suspect and needs further verification. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights. More information is needed on host use and the larval life history in North Carolina.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Montane Rosaceous Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR[S2S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Hedya chionosema appears to be rare in North Carolina where it is restricted to the Blue Ridge.

 Photo Gallery for Hedya chionosema - White-spotted Hedya

Photos: 1

Recorded by: Ted Wilcox on 2025-05-31
Watauga Co.
Comment: